Mid-term efficacy of percutaneous laser disc decompression for treatment of cervical vertigo.

Objective: To observe and analyze the mid-term efficacy of percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) for the treatment of cervical vertigo.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with cervical vertigo were admitted from September 2002 to December 2006, including 14 males and 21 females, aged between 35 and 79 years with an average of 59.1 years. All patients were treated with PLDD by the Nd:YAG laser therapy (wavelength: 1,064 nm) and were followed up. The improvement of vertigo and associated symptoms was evaluated by numerical rating scale (NRS) assessment, while fineness rate and efficient rate were evaluated using modified MacNab assessment criteria.

Results: No intraoperative and postoperative complication was reported. The patients were followed up for 24-66 months. At the end of the follow-up, the average NRS scores of the dizziness and complications are significantly smaller. The overall efficacy was evaluated based on modified MacNab criteria: excellent, 18 cases; good, 7 cases; acceptable, 5 cases; and poor, 5 cases. No statistical difference existed between age groups (P > 0.05) and also between gender groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: PLDD treatment of cervical vertigo trauma has many advantages, such as minimal trauma, high safety, and satisfactory mid-term efficacy with no significant difference in clinical efficacy between different age and gender groups.