[Lumbar disk prolapses and radiological spinal intervention. What do the randomized controlled trials say?].

Abstract

We searched the Medline database and examined 11 randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy of treating lumbar herniated discs by injection with chymopapain or by automated percutaneous discectomy. Our findings show that chemonucleolysis with chymopapain is a documented treatment which is better than placebo, but consistently inferior to surgical discectomy. The two randomized controlled trials to evaluate automated percutaneous discectomy fail to show efficacy that is any better than would be expected from a placebo response. We conclude that surgical discectomy is the best treatment option for a herniated disc when conservative efforts have failed.

• Authors: F O Rasmussen, T Amundsen, B Vandvik
• Journal: Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen) Vol. 118 Issue 16 Pg. 2478-80 (Jun 20 1998) ISSN: 0029-2001 [Print] Norway
• Vernacular Title: Lumbale skiveprolapser og radiologisk ryggintervensjon. Hva sier randomiserte kontrollerte studier?
• PMID: 9667123 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Chymopapain

Topics

• Chymopapain (administration & dosage)
• Diskectomy, Percutaneous
• Humans
• Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis
• Intervertebral Disc Displacement (diagnostic imaging, surgery, therapy)
• Radiography
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic