Intradiscal Electro-Thermal Therapy (IDET)

The Painful Disc

Most individual will experience back pain at one time or another during their lives. For most people the pain resolves quickly with the rest, exercises, or medication. In some cases severe pain can persist from disc degeneration. Cracks or fissures can develop in the walls of a disc as a result of injury or the aging process. These areas contain small nerve endings and blood vessels and can become sources of pain within the disc. Additionally the inner disc tissue (nucleus) will frequently bulge or herniate into these fissures in the outer portion of the disc (annulus) thus stimulating pain receptors in the disc.

What is Intradiscal Electro-Thermal Therapy?

IDET is a minimally invasive treatment in which your doctor controlled levels of thermal energy (heat) through a catheter placed into a broad section of the affected disc wall (annulus). The heat contracts and thickens the collagen in the disc wall.

Who may benefit from an IDET procedure?

The IDET procedure is designed to treat only specific types of pain coming from a lumbar disc. Individual who are candidates for IDET include those with small disc herniations, internal disc tears, and degenerative disc disease in which the disc is not too narrowed. In addition to history and physical examination, your physician will require that you have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or injections of dye into the disc (discography) to confirm a diagnosis.

How is the procedure performed?

An IV will be placed in your arm and you will be given a light sedative. After you are in position on the procedure table, your doctor will take x-rays to identify the proper disc level(s). Your lower back skin and muscle will be numbed with local anesthetic.

An introducer needle is then placed into your disc under x-ray guidance. The SpineCath catheter is placed through the needle and into the disc.

Once in appropriate position, the temperature of the heating section of the catheter will be gradually increased, raising the disc wall temperature. During the heating protocol, your physician will monitor your condition and comfort closely. Once the heating process is completed the needle and catheter will be removed and a Band-Aid placed over the needle insertion site. You will then be taken to the recovery area where you will be monitored for approximately an hour before you are sent home with your driver.

After the Procedure

After the procedure it will take several days for the discomfort to subside. You will be given appropriate pain medication during this time period. During the disc healing process, which lasts up to 12 to 16 weeks, it is important to follow the restrictions and rehabilitation guidelines your physician provides for you. It is important to remember pain relief and improvements in functional abilities may take several months to occur-improvements may continue up to 6 months.

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