Yes, you are right. I was speaking generally.
Key for success with PLDD is:
1. Proper patient selection
2. Surgeons technical skills and knowledge of the anatomy
Its not used more often because STILL most of spinal surgeons don't trust in minimally-invasive methods. Some of them tell me "I don't do minimally-invasive, it's new" ... Its not new! Its around us for 40 years already!
Some of them are scared because already mentioned anatomy problem. Not all bodies are the same, and every single percutaneous minimally-invasive method carries significant risks. Recently I attended a two level PLDD (L4-L5 and L5-S1). Doctor Saftic had big troubles reaching L5-S1 disc space, but in the end he succeed and patient is now completely pain fee (he had two level annular tear).
And third - Not all cases are for minimally-invasive approach. So, surgeons still do the gold standard micro-surgery.
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"The world of spinal medicine, unfortunately, is producing patients with failed back surgery syndrome at an alarming rate"
2005 - 2012: Rich personal experience with spinal disorders and various treatments (surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic)
Co-Founder: Vertebris Internationl Spine Hospital
Founder: Spinoteka - Society for Spine Diseases
Last edited by Keano16; 08-03-2010 at 01:05 PM.
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