The objective of this research was to determine the outcome of laser disc decompression and laser disc ablation in the management of painful degenerative disc disease with or without associated disc prolapse. Nonendoscopic percutaneous laser disc decompression was performed under x-ray control via the posterolateral approach with side-firing probes. All patients with chronic back pain who had reproduced pain during discography of a nature, pattern, and distribution similar to what they experienced normally were included in the study. Magnetic resonance which confirmed stenosis and sequestrated discs, and patients with acute neurological findings were excluded from the study. Laser disc decompression or ablation was done using the KTP532 wavelength. The functional outcome was assessed prospectively using the Oswestry Disability Index. Clinical benefit was considered significant in those patients with a percentage change in the index of > or =50% at review 3-9 years (mean, 5.33 years) following surgery. A total of 52% of patients demonstrated a sustained significant clinical benefit, with an additional 21% in whom functional improvement was noted. Cohort integrity was 67%. Long-term benefit of the laser disc ablation and decompression for discogenic pain suggests a mechanism other than principally mechanical as a cause of chronic back and sciatic pain. It may suggest that efficacy occurs by reduction in the intradiscal production of irritative products and by an effect upon discal and annular neoneuralization. The sustained nature of the benefit after long-term preoperative symptoms (mean, 4.7 years) rules out any placebo effect. Selection should be restricted to patients without significant lateral recess stenosis, retrolisthesis or olisthesis of > or =3 mm, significant dorsal or foraminal osteophytosis, extrusion, or sequestration.