Prospective, Randomized, Multi-center Clinical Study of Plasma Disc Decompression

Chronic leg and back pain are two of the most common ailments in our society, and are associated with serious financial and social consequences. One surgical treatment modality is plasma disc decompression, based on the principle that inducing a small reduction of volume in the closed hydraulic space of an intact (contained herniated) disc can relieve pressure, and thereby reduce or eliminate pain. Another widely accepted treatment is transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI), which delivers a high concentration of corticosteroid to the targeted disc nerve interface, and is thought to decrease pain by reducing inflammation.

This study proposes to compare the efficacy of the plasma disc decompression procedure to the standard TFESI series in patients who have failed to improve after an initial TFESI injection. The goal is to better understand the differences between these two treatment modalities and to monitor the rates of symptom improvement through the first six months between patients receiving a series of at least two selective nerve root injections and those undergoing the one-time plasma disc decompression procedure after failing one fluoroscopy guided TFESI. Patients will continue to be monitored over the 2-year post-procedure period to assess stability of treatment effect.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient has one symptomatic contained, focal herniated lumbar disc.
• Patient's age should be at least 18 years old and no more than 75 years old.
• Selective nerve root injection or epidural steroid injection for symptomatic herniated disc, received between 3 weeks and six months ago.
• A VAS score for radicular pain of 50 or greater on a scale of 0 to 100.
• Radicular pain concordant with image findings (MRI or CT).
• Disc height greater than 50%.
• Patient signs informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient is pregnant, or pregnancy is suspected or planned within the study timeframe.
• Patient is receiving Worker's compensation or is in litigation related to back/leg pain.
• Patient has a cardiac pacemaker, automatic defibrillator, or any peripheral stimulator leads in the lumbar area.
• Allergy to contrast media or drugs to be used in the intended procedure.
• Medical co-morbidities that preclude surgical intervention.
• Patient is receiving anti-psychotic therapy.
• Patient is a prisoner.
• Patient is incapable of understanding or responding to the study questionnaires.
• History of previous spinal surgery at, or directly adjacent to, the level to be treated.
• Patient is morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 40).
• Patient is simultaneously participating in another device or drug study related to limb/axial pain.
• Patient has a spinal fracture, tumor or infection.
• Radicular pain originating from more than one disc level.
• Axial (back) pain greater than radicular (leg) pain.
• Clinical evidence of cauda equina syndrome.
• Progressive neurologic deficit.
• Radiological evidence of spondylolisthesis at the level to be treated.
• Radiological evidence of moderate/severe stenosis at the level to be treated.
• Evidence of extruded or sequestered disc herniation on magnetic resonance imaging.