[Percutaneous nucleotomy: an alternative to chemonucleolysis?].

In this study, we compare two groups of patients treated with chemonucleolysis (CNL) (101 patients) and percutaneous nucleotomy (PN) (100 patients) for sciatic pains. Indications for treatment were drawn along similar lines. The patients treated with CNL originated from the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital in Mainz and underwent treatment between 1983 and 1987. The second group with PN were from the teaching hospital in Wiesbaden and were treated during 1987 and 1988. Postoperatively, 80% of the CNL group showed good results. However, postoperative progress was slow with back spasms as a common uncomfortable side effect. In 72% of the patients in the PN group, successful treatment was demonstrated with results occurring almost immediately after treatment.