Intradiscal electrothermal treatment for chronic discogenic low back pain: a prospective outcome study with minimum 1-year follow-up.
METHODS
Prospective case series.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the outcome of patients with chronic low back pain whose symptoms did not improve with aggressive nonoperative care and who chose (intradiscal electrothermal anuloplasty) IDET as an alternative to chronic pain management or interbody fusion surgery.


BACKGROUND
Patients with unremitting chronic discogenic low back pain are faced with the choice of long-term pain management or fusion surgery. Intradiscal electrothermal anuloplasty (IDET) was developed as an alternative minimally invasive treatment.


METHODS
Sixty-two patients from the author's practice who had chronic low back pain unresponsive to nonoperative care, no evidence of compressive radiculopathy, and concordant pain reproduction at one or more disc levels on provocative discography were enrolled in the study. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and Short Form (SF)-36 Health Status Questionnaire Physical Function subscale and SF-36 Bodily Pain subscale scores were assessed at baseline and at least 1 year later.


RESULTS
Mean follow-up was 16 months, and mean preoperative duration of symptoms was 60 months. Baseline and follow-up outcome measures demonstrated a mean change in VAS score of 3.0 (P < 0.001), mean change in SF-36 physical function of 20 (P < 0.001), and mean change in SF-36 bodily pain of 17 (P < 0.001). Symptoms improved in 44 (71%) of 62 of the study group on the SF-36 physical function subscale, in 46 (74%) of 62 on the SF-36 Bodily Pain subscale, and in 44 (71%) of 62 on the VAS scores. Twelve (19%) of 62 of the patients did not show improvement on any scale.


CONCLUSIONS
A cohort of patients with chronic unremitting low back pain of discogenic origin whose symptoms had failed to improve with aggressive nonoperative care demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement on the SF-36 and the VAS scores at a minimum follow-up of 1 year after IDET. The positive results should be validated with placebo-controlled randomized trials and studies that compare IDET with alternative treatments.-
Saal
J A
JA
SOAR, Physiatry Medical Group, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
Saal
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014937:Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data