Michael W. Meriwether, M.D., P.A. Neurosurgeon, Board Certified

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Endoscopic Laser Lumbar Disc Decompression.
Michael W. Meriwether, M.D., P.A.Neurosurgeon,
Board Certified Sarasota, FloridaUSA
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Michael W. Meriwether M.D., P.A.
Undergraduate Duke University, 1971 Medical
Graduate University of North Carolina,
1975 Neurosurgery Resident Bethesda Naval
Hospital, 1980 Associate Professor USF Medical
School Tampa, FL USUHS Medical School, Bethesda,
MD
Chief of Staff Doctors Hospital, Sarasota, FL
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Patient Indications
History of Leg Pain Greater than Back Pain
Neurological Symptoms in a Sciatic Distribution
Failure to Respond to Conservative Care
MRI Scan Demonstrating Focal Disc Protrusion
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Percutaneous Technique
Minimally Invasive Percutaneous
Discectomy Outpatient Surgery Posterior-lateral
approach Local /IV Sedation
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Technique
Insertion of trocar Cannula placement Trephine
annulotomy Disc removal
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Criteria For Success
Relief of Sciatica
Off Narcotic Medications
Return to Work/Business Functions
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Conservative Care
Average Time From Symptoms Until the LASE
Procedure 12 Months average
Average Length of Time For Conservative Care
9.4 Months average
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Modified Magill Pain Scale
1 - No Pain 2 - Occasional Pain 3 - Mild Pain 4 -
Moderate Pain 5 - Severe Pain
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McNab Criteria
1 - Excellent 2 - Good 3 - Fair (Group placed
in failure category) 4 - Poor (Failures)
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Levels
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Pre-operative Pain
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Post-operative Pain
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Pre-Op and Post-Op Charts
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Follow Up
Office Visit Mailing Questionnaire Subsequent
MRI Average Length of Time for Post Operative
Follow-Up 66 months average
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Success Using Endoscopy Technique (McNab 1
2) Follow-up _at_ 66 months
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Success Rate
522 out of 620 84.20
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Failures
98/620 - 32 surgeries 15.80 - 5.16 of the
total McNab 3 4 - 14 pts L-MCD
13 pts BAK-L/RTC Fusion
3 pts DLL 5 pts SCS
Implantation
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Additional Information
No Infections Occurred No Nerve Root
Injuries Occasional transient Causalgia Syndrome
that resolves to therapy / medications