Study design: This is an in vitro experimental study of the technical capability and safety study of a navigable percutaneous disc decompression device named L'DISQ.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine if L'DISQ could adequately reach certain target zones in the disc and to measure the distribution of rises in temperature in the surrounding tissue when the device was used to ablate the disc.
Methods: Placement of the wand of L'DISQ was attempted into the posterior annulus of the discs of four fresh human cadavers. During disc ablation, thermocouple probes were used to measure the temperature within the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus, on the surface of the annulus, and on the posterior longitudinal ligament. Tissues harvested from around the disc were examined histologically.
Results: The tip of the wand could be successfully navigated to the posterolateral or posterocentral annulus at all levels above L5-S1 using a lateral approach. Rises in temperature did not exceed 13.25 ± 0.84°C within the disc, and did not exceed 1°C on the surface of the disc. Histology demonstrated no thermal damage to the surrounding neural tissues.
Conclusion: L'DISQ can be successfully navigated to the target zones, and disc tissue ablated without thermal or structural damage to the adjacent neural tissues.
Wiley Periodicals, Inc.