I have a couple of questions:

1) Can Nucleoplasty seal tears? If so, how?
2) Is Nucleoplasty a brand name (Arthro-Care) for percutaneous disc decompression?
3) Are there other similar procedures? What are they called? Who promotes them?

I found a great explanation of how nucleoplasty is performed at www.nucleoplasty.com. (http://www.nucleoplasty.com.) This is ArthroCare's site; The firm that produces and sells the PERC-D spine wands used for performing Nucleoplasty. I read through most of this web-site including the "For Physicians" section and found no indication that Nucleoplast actually seals disk tears, although I have read from some of you that it does.

One of the the inclusion criteria for patients is: "CONTAINED posterior-lateral protrusion". Not sure if "contained" means without tears or just that the protrusion is contained within the annulus.

4) Anyone know for sure what is meant by "contained protrusion"? Isn't that an oxymoron?

There is no eveidence that the nucleoplasty procedure heals tears in the disk. The idea is that with the procedure, the nucleus returns to normal and the disk can then start to heal itself, which disks do all the time.
Yes, nucleoplasty and percutaneous disc decompression are synonomous. In fact, most health insurance do not cover nucleoplasty at all, but will cover percutaneous decompression if you meet thier specific criteria. I know this because I got approved for the procedure by having to do this. I believe the CBT code is 0216
Other procedures are IDET, PLDD, etc.. which do not use radiowave decompression like nucleoplasty. Most use laser or a heated element like in IDET.
Contained protrusion is an interesting one. By definition, herniation means breaking the annulus. However, for nucleoplasty candidates, it means not having broken the annulus or "contained" within the annulus wall. Though an MRI can tell alot, a discogram will confirm this.
Hope this helps !!!!!!!!!!!

I have a couple of questions:
1) Can Nucleoplasty seal tears? If so, how?
2) Is Nucleoplasty a brand name (Arthro-Care) for percutaneous disc decompression?
3) Are there other similar procedures? What are they called? Who promotes them?

I found a great explanation of how nucleoplasty is performed at www.nucleoplasty.com. (http://www.nucleoplasty.com.) This is ArthroCare's site; The firm that produces and sells the PERC-D spine wands used for performing Nucleoplasty. I read through most of this web-site including the "For Physicians" section and found no indication that Nucleoplast actually seals disk tears, although I have read from some of you that it does.

One of the the inclusion criteria for patients is: "CONTAINED posterior-lateral protrusion". Not sure if "contained" means without tears or just that the protrusion is contained within the annulus.

4) Anyone know for sure what is meant by "contained protrusion"? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Thanks!

I guess I need to clarify with my doctor whether my disks are "contained". I know that my CT scan after my discogram showed evidence of a leak in my l4-l5 disc, however, MRI does not show any bulging. My L5-S1 is severeley herniated, but I also don't know whether this one would be considered "contained".

Since my doc recomended nucleoplasty, I would assume so, but there's no place for assuptions in a serious matter such as my back, right?

If you want to know for sure, a discogram will tell you if there is a leak or if it is contained (can tell you if tears s well).

posting my signature

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-28 year old male
-6'0" 195 pounds
-5 years chronic pain in lower back
-Little to no leg pain
-Done PT, 2 epidurals, and NSAIDs
-MRI shows herniation in L5-S1
-diskogram confirmed diskogenic pain in L5-S1 and L4-L5
-had numerous doctor's opinons regarding Fusion, microdiskectomy, nucleoplasty, and IDET.
-M.D.'s: Michael Wolff - Physiatrist, Dennis Crandall - Orthopedic Surgeon, Curtis Dickman - Neurosurgeon, Anthony Yeung - Orthopedic Surgeon
-Considering IDET and or Nucleoplasty as recommended by Dr. Wolff
-Leaning away from IDET due to it's longer recovery time.