{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]],"date-time":"2026-05-25T03:02:26Z","timestamp":1779678146159,"version":"3.53.1"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,24]],"date-time":"2026-05-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779580800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological efficacy of percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) in patients with disc-related lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: Data from 96 patients who underwent PLDD between January 2023 and January 2025 were reviewed retrospectively. Pain intensity (visual analogue scale [VAS]), functional capacity (pain-free walking distance), patient satisfaction (global patient evaluation), and radiological canal diameter were assessed before the procedure and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Treatment response was determined based on a \u22652-point decrease in the VAS score, which is the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) criterion. Results: A marked improvement in VAS scores was observed from the early period following PLDD, with the mean VAS score decreasing from 8.02 to 5.02 \u00b1 1.99 at 6 months (p &lt; 0.001). The pain-free walking distance increased from 212.7 m to 345.8 m, resulting in a significant improvement in functional capacity (p &lt; 0.001). A significant increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal from 7.1 \u00b1 1.7 mm to 7.9 \u00b1 1.8 mm (p &lt; 0.001) was observed, corresponding to a mean increase of 0.8 mm; however, the magnitude of this radiological change was modest and should be interpreted cautiously. A moderate correlation was found between radiological expansion and VAS change (r = 0.52). At 6 months, 72.9% of patients met the MCID criterion. Although ODI improved significantly over follow-up, the mean reduction remained below commonly accepted MCID thresholds, suggesting that the functional benefit may be modest. No major complications were observed; only short-term transient radicular irritation (2.1%) was seen. Conclusions: PLDD was associated with improvements in pain control, functional capacity, and modest radiological canal enlargement in this cohort of carefully selected patients with single-level, predominantly disc-driven lumbar spinal stenosis. However, because of the retrospective design and absence of a control group, no conclusions regarding comparative effectiveness can be drawn. PLDD should therefore be viewed as a selectively applicable minimally invasive option rather than a general treatment for all forms of lumbar spinal stenosis. The observed clinical benefit was limited to the 6-month follow-up available in this cohort, and its durability beyond this period remains uncertain. Prospective and comparative studies are required to better define its long-term role and its position relative to conservative treatment and surgery.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm15114060","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]],"date-time":"2026-05-25T01:45:08Z","timestamp":1779673508000},"page":"4060","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Clinical, Functional, and Radiological Outcomes of Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression in Disc-Related Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2527-3510","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cagatay","family":"Kucukbingoz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health, Adana City Training & Research Hospital, Adana 01370, Turkey"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-0200-9328","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ahmet","family":"Yilmaz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health, Adana City Training & Research Hospital, Adana 01370, Turkey"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"SE229","DOI":"10.36076\/ppj.2013\/16\/SE229","article-title":"Percutaneous lumbar laser disc decompression: An update of current evidence","volume":"16","author":"Singh","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pain Physician"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.36076\/ppj.2009\/12\/573","article-title":"Percutaneous lumbar laser disc decompression: A systematic review of current evidence","volume":"12","author":"Singh","year":"2009","journal-title":"Pain Physician"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.semarthrit.2007.01.006","article-title":"Percutaneous laser disc decompression for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: A review","volume":"37","author":"Goupille","year":"2007","journal-title":"Semin. 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