Guidance
3 Further information
3.1 NICE has also issued guidance on laser lumbar discectomy (replaced by NICE interventional procedure 357; 'Percutaneous intradiscal laser ablation in the lumbar spine'). Guidance on prosthetic intervertebral disc replacement, percutaneous intradiscal electrothermocoagulation and percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation are currently in progress and will be published in 2004 after public consultation [Now published as 'Prosthetic intervertebral disc replacement in the lumbar spine', 'Percutaneous intradiscal electrothermal therapy for low back pain' and 'Percutaneous intradiscal radiofrequency thermocoagulation for lower back pain', respectively].
Andrew Dillon
Chief Executive
December 2003
Sources of evidence
The evidence considered by the Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee is described in the following document.
'Interventional procedure overview of endoscopic laser foraminoplasty', October 2002.
Information for patients
NICE has produced information on this procedure for patients and carers ('Understanding NICE guidance'). It explains the nature of the procedure and the guidance issued by NICE, and has been written with patient consent in mind.