Percutaneous diskectomy.

Abstract

Automated percutaneous diskectomy and manual percutaneous diskectomy (PCD) have gained recent popularity as alternatives to traditional surgical diskectomy or microdiskectomy. Initial reports of morbidity seem low. The rates of infection, and neurologic and vascular complications appear comparable or less than the morbidity associated with surgical diskectomy or microdiskectomy. However, inconsistent reports of the efficacy of PCD may cause more concern about overuse than about the morbidity.