Plasma Disc Decompression is an option for those people who have failed conservative care, and in many cases provides an alternative to more invasive open surgery. It is a minimally invasive procedure that allows you to go home on the same day of the procedure.

The procedure is performed under x-ray guidance to accurately place a surgical port (passage way) into the disc. Using this minimally invasive approach, a small pathway is made into the disc and a precisely engineered device, known as a SpineWand® surgical device, is then inserted through the surgical port into the center of the disc. The device utilizes Coblation technology to dissolve tissue while preserving nearby healthy tissue.

The removal of nucleus tissue relieves pressure on the protective ring around the disc or annulus, typically allowing the bulge to recede, so that the disc no longer irritates the nearby nerve root. Normally, the entire procedure takes less than an hour, and the patient can leave the medical facility one to two hours later, with no overnight hospital stay required.

Plasma Disc Decompression is recognized by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the SpineWand devices used in the procedure have been cleared by the FDA for ablation, coagulation and decompression of disc material to treat symptomatic patients with contained herniated discs. The plasma technology used in the Plasma Disc Decompression procedure (known as Coblation), was developed by ArthroCare and has been used successfully for more than 10 years in over 4.5 million procedures, including knee, shoulder, and ear nose and throat surgery. The difference between Plasma Disc Decompression and other methods of disc decompression is found in ArthroCare's unique Coblation® technology which enables tissue to be removed quickly and efficiently, without damaging nearby healthy tissue.

Why choose Plasma Disc Decompression

Plasma Disc Decompression allows for controlled tissue removal. This minimizes the possibility of removing too much tissue or tissue beyond the targeted area which can lead to disc degeneration. The procedure does not rely on heat for tissue removal, and does not introduce excessive heat that may cause tissue damage. A minimally invasive approach using only a small needle (1mm or 1/20th inch) to access the disc is used, which minimizes scarring or annular disc damage that may be caused by larger or more aggressive devices.

Plasma Disc Decompression has successfully become a leading method for performing minimally invasive disc decompression and is a leading choice for physicians around the world.