Microtherapy Berlin

First PLDD in the open high-field MRI

This week, the first percutaneous laser disk decompression (PLDD) was preformed on a 42year-old male patient in the open high-field MRI at the Charité, Berlin by Streitparth, MD. These interventions have been performed in low-field MR scanners and under CT guidance but never before in an open high-field system(1.0T). PLDD is a minimally invasive treatment strategy for disc prolapse, based on laser-induced volume reduction of the prolapsed disc material.

The patient was treated for chronic backpain in our department with percutaneous injections to the nerve root as part of a serial treatment plan. Since radicular pain persisted, the patient elected to be treated with PLDD. The intervention was performed under local anesthesia. The patient was able to leave the hospital the following day without impairment. We will monitor the patient over the next six months to assess the intervention outcome.

The advantages of PLDD under MR-guidance are the omission of ionizing radiation for patient and physician, excellent soft-tissue depiction and the possibility for near real-time image navigation of the needle. All of these advantages contribute to the fact that PLDD is safe and minimally invasive.

The images show planning of the procedure, laser fiber within the prolapsed disc on an MR image and in the patients back.

| | | | | |