Percutaneous Laser Disk Ablation

Dogs experiencing an episode of intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) have a 2.6–41.7% risk of recurrence. Percutaneous laser disk ablation (PLDA) is a minimally invasive procedure performed on the thoracolumbar spine to reduce recurrence of IVDH. A prospective study has since evaluated the changes that occur with PLDA to the intervertebral disk, vertebral body, and spinal cord. With a variety of mechanical and chemical techniques available, PLDA using laser therapy was created to reduce the volume and pressure of an affected disk without damaging surrounding spinal structures. Peracute complications have been reported to occur during the procedure in up to 10% of cases, with the most common being inability to insert a needle into a disk space because of rib superimposition or disk space narrowing. Postoperative complications have been documented in 8.6% of dogs undergoing PLDA.