Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41524813›Full record

ArticleJA clinical reports2026

Evaluation of Disc-FX versus L'DISQ for percutaneous disc decompression: pilot comparative study using the minimal clinically important difference.

Haruka Takaoka, Reon Kobayashi, Ichiro Okano, Asae Taketomi, Eiko Hara, Hitoshi Mera, Masaki Ishikawa, Yoshifumi Kudo, Katsunori Oe

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JA clinical reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Haruka TakaokaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5- 8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.
Reon KobayashiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5- 8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan. reon_pc@med.showa-u.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1787-5535
Ichiro OkanoDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.
Asae TaketomiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5- 8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.
Eiko HaraDepartment of Anesthesiology, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5- 8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.
Hitoshi MeraDepartment of Anesthesiology, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5- 8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.
Masaki IshikawaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5- 8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.
Yoshifumi KudoDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.
Katsunori OeDepartment of Anesthesiology, Showa Medical University School of Medicine, 1-5- 8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLumbar 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.

methodsWe 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).

resultsForty-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.

conclusionsIn 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.

Indexed as

Disc-FXInterventional pain managementL’DISQLumbar disc herniationMinimal clinically important differenceMinimally invasive spine surgeryPercutaneous disc decompressionRadicular pain

Identifiers

PMID41524813
PMCPMC12886625

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.