introductionthe director
Hironori Tanabe, MD, PhD
Dr Tanabe, the director of our clinic, has worked as a spine surgeon at some top-level hospitals for more than twenty years in Japan and has performed surgeries for almost all spinal diseases, from the cervical spine to the lumbar spine.
Dr Tanabe also has conducted basic research of spinal disease as a research fellow at Rush University in Chicago, USA.
In our clinic, we perform two special spinal treatments (laser treatment for herniated discs and regenerative medicine treatment for chronic low back pain), so if you are in trouble, please come and consult with us.
PLDDPercutaneous Laser Disc Decompression
PLDD is a treatment that aims to improve neurological symptoms caused by herniated discs by irradiating the intervertebral discs with a laser.
This is a method of treating intervertebral disc herniation by irradiating the nucleus pulposus with a laser fiber pierced into the nucleus pulposus under fluoroscopy and evaporating the nucleus pulposus.
PLDD Illustration
Before laser irradiation
A laser is irradiated to evaporate a part of the nucleus pulposus to create a cavity.
After laser irradiation
The cavity makes the nucleus pulposus pressure lower, which was pressing on the nerve roots.
Merit and demerit of PLDD
merit
- An effective treatment for about 90% of patients with lumbar disc herniation.
- One-day surgery.
- The scar is not noticeable (only the degree of needle hole).
demerit
- Not covered by health insurance.
- In PLDD, it takes time for the cavity formed in the nucleus pulposus to disappear. For this reason, it may take longer to show the effect than surgery.
- Although rare, complications such as nerve root injury, damage of vertebral end-plate, and wound infection may occur.
Cost of PLDD
| Lumbar spine | ¥297,000 (tax included) |
|---|
- If there is a lesion in two parts, ¥88,000 (tax included) will be added per vertebra.
- This treatment is not covered by health insurance.
Characteristics of PLDD at our clinic
In general, PLDD irradiates the central part of the intervertebral disc with a laser, but at our clinic, the laser probe is placed in the abnormal disc to effectively treat the hernia. This method is a delicate and difficult technique, but at our clinic, Dr Tanabe, who is a spine specialist, performs all cases, so you can treat it accurately.
Treatment flow of PLDD
-
Preparation
Advance preparations such as injections and infusions will be made.
-
Surgery
The surgery is performed in about 15 minutes under C-arm fluoroscopy in the fluoroscopy room of our hospital.
-
Postoperative
Bed rest is required for about 30 minutes after surgery. After that, you can go home normally.
-
1 week postoperatively
Normal daily life is possible. However, symptoms may worsen, so avoid straining your lower back.
- The above is a general course and may vary from person to person.
Those who wish to receive treatment of PLDD
Please read the treatment instructions and see Dr. Tanabe at our hospital.
If you make an appointment online or by phone, you will be able to receive a medical examination more smoothly.
Regenerative medicine and PRPPRP injection therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain
There are many cases where PRP injections are remarkably effective for chronic low back pain that continues for more than 3 months, so we may recommend it if a therapeutic effect can be expected.
Chronic low back pain in young or middle-aged patients
Low back pain is often caused by cracked or degenerated discs. At our hospital, after confirming the imaging findings and the site of low back pain by MRI, we inject PRP into the intervertebral disc at the highest level of responsibility under fluoroscopy.
Case 1 ）
He had been suffering from back pain for more than a year. He had problems with his daily life, such as not being able to run and not being able to cut my nails on his own.
Degeneration of the L4/5 intervertebral disc was observed and PRP injection treatment was performed in the same area, the back pain gradually improved, and eventually the pain disappeared, and he was able to return to sports.
About chronic low back pain in the elderly patients
In the elderly patients, the causes of chronic low back pain, such as residual low back pain after lumbar compression fractures and degenerative lumbar spondylosis, often come from facet joints, which are posterior elements of the spine.
In addition, chronic low back pain caused by sacroiliac joints and gluteal nerve entrapment is also relatively common.
PRP injection is performed on the responsible lesion under fluoroscopy.
Case 2 ）
An elderly woman with compression fractures of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12). She had prolonged back pain, but could not be operated because of her heart disease.
When PRP was injected into the facet joint adjacent to the fractured vertebral body, the back pain was improved to the point where she was able to turn over on her own.
Consequences of Lumbar PRP Treatment
Since 2022, we have been providing PRP treatment to patients suffering from chronic low back pain. The number of cases is more than 50.
The results of the treatment are generally good, and the number of back pain and daily living disorders has been reduced about half in about 3 months after PRP is administered.
Since only the patient's blood is used as a material for 15cc blood collection, it can be said that it is a safe treatment with little burden.
Cost of PRP injection
| Lumber or Cervical Spine | ¥110,000 (tax included) |
|---|
- If there is a lesion in two parts, ¥110,000 (tax included) will be added per another lesion.
- This treatment is not covered by health insurance.