Abstract Background Lumbar disc herniation often causes disabling radicular pain and impaired quality of life (QOL). Disc-FX and L’DISQ are minimally invasive percutaneous disc decompression devices, but their comparative efficacy remains uncertain. Methods We retrospectively reviewed adults with single-level lumbar disc herniation treated with Disc-FX or L’DISQ at a single centre (October 2018–August 2023). Eligibility required radicular pain consistent with magnetic resonance imaging and either positive provocative discography or pain relief after intradiscal injection. Pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale NRS) and QOL (EuroQOL 5-Dimension 5-Levels EQ-5D-5 L) were assessed at baseline and up to 6 months. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in change in NRS from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes included 6-month change in EQ-5D-5 L and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) attainment (NRS ≥ 2-point reduction; EQ-5D-5 L ≥ 0.08 increase). Results Forty-two patients were included (Disc-FX n = 16; L’DISQ n = 26). Both procedures reduced NRS pain scores over 6 months, and the primary outcome showed no statistically significant between-group difference (mean difference 1.32 points; 95% CI − 0.36 to 3.01). Among patients with baseline EQ-5D-5 L data ( n = 38), Disc-FX showed greater 6-month EQ-5D-5 L improvement (mean difference 0.134; 95% CI 0.013 to 0.255) and higher EQ-5D-5 L MCID attainment (83.3% vs. 50.0%), but these are secondary results from a small retrospective cohort. Conclusions In this pilot study, Disc-FX and L’DISQ had comparable short-term pain outcomes. Any apparent QOL advantage with Disc-FX should be interpreted cautiously as exploratory and potentially confounded, and requires confirmation in adequately powered prospective comparative studies.
Takaoka et al. (Mon,) studied this question.