Chymopapain chemonucleolysis in lumbar disk disease
L. L. Wiltse, E. R. Widell Jr and H. A. Yuan
Experience with chymopapain chemonucleolysis in 1,200 cases of lumbar disk
disease indicates that it is an effective method of relieving pain
resulting from an abnormal intervertebral disk. Complications were few;
anaphylaxis occurring immediately after injection was by far the most
serious. With the use of a corticosteroid and an antihistamine in
preoperative preparation, the incidence of anaphylaxis had dropped,
although it still occurs. On long-term follow-up, chemonucleolysis appears
to be as good as laminectomy in properly selected cases.
