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  • Title: The long-term results of chymopapain. Ten-year follow-up of 268 patients after chemonucleolysis.
    Author: Maciunas RJ, Onofrio BM.
    Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res; 1986 May; (206):37-41. PubMed ID: 3708990.
    Abstract:
    The effect of chymopapain injection was investigated in myelographically confirmed intervertebral disc herniation in 268 patients after ten years. Mean age is 39.4 years, 178 males and 90 females. Sixty-two patients had compensation or litigation and 12 had prior lumbar spine surgery. Discography was performed in 223 patients, resulting in 134 one-level injections, 124 two-level injections, and ten three-level injections. Forty percent of the patients experienced postoperative muscle spasm for several days. No complications were seen in 241 patients (92%) who were available for follow-up examination at ten years; 86% had less leg pain, 82% were employed at a capacity equal to or greater than before injection, 9% were at a less strenuous job, 1% were disabled, and 8% had retired. In 22 patients treated surgically within one year of chemonucleolysis, disc-related pathology was present in 14 cases and spondylosis or spinal stenosis was present in seven cases. One had a negative exploration and continued to be disabled. Eight patients came to surgical intervention after one year because of persisting symptoms: four patients had disc protrusion, three had laminectomy and spinal fusion, and one had a decompressive laminectomy secondary to spondylotic change. Chemonucleolysis did not prejudice the outcome of subsequent surgical treatment with good results following this intervention. One tumor, a neurofibroma, was found in this study. Chemonucleolysis with chymopapain was a safe and effective treatment of radicular complaints caused by well-documented intervertebral disc herniation.
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