ABSTRACTPLDD is a simple and effective treatment for carefully selected patients with herniated disc disease. It can be performed in an outpatient setting, involves no cutting, scar tissue formation, or subsequent spinal instability. Since local anesthesia is used, the risks of general inhalation anesthesia are avoided. It is FDA approved, is no longer experimental, and is reimbursable by third-party payers. The complication rate of 1 is lower than that of open surgery. Of the three lasers currently in use for PLDD, our group prefers the Nd:YAG laser because it is the simplest, utilizes an 18-gauge needle, and is a two-step procedure. It also has the longest follow-up. There have also been no laser-related complications with this laser.
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