Since chymopapain was taken off the market in 2002, no percutaneous treatment has been proven to be a valuable alternative to surgical discectomy in herniated disk-related sciatica. Intradiscal injection of alcohol was a possibly efficient technique but was not used due to its rapid dissipation and nerve toxicity. The gel, by stabilizing the alcohol into the disc, now makes it effective locally and cancels its nerve toxicity. As a preliminary evaluation, we conducted an open trial with strict methodological criteria to test the efficiency of an intradiscal injection using a new product based on jellified ethanol, Discogel®, in the treatment of nerve root pain due to compression by herniated disk. A 30% improvement in pain VAS was obtained in two thirds of the patients. No complication was encountered. These results prompted us to further investigate the effectiveness of Discogel® chemonucleolysis using a randomized design comparing it to surgery which remains the gold-standard treatment for disk-related sciatica resistant to conservative treatment. Our hypothesis is that chemonucleolysis using Discogel® has suitable efficacy and safety profile for large application in the treatment of persistent herniated disc related sciatica and that it is consequently able to reduce the need of surgery, namely open discectomy, in this indication. New minimally invasive approach of herniated disc-related sciatica is crucial, due to high prevalence and medico-economic impact of the disease. Awaited advances are enrichment of management strategies for herniated disc-related sciatica, earlier recovery of patients unresponsive to first line conservative treatment, reduction of the costs and serious adverse events related with surgery and finally reduction of the costs associated with induced sciatica disability.