Intradiscal electrothermal treatment for chronic discogenic low back pain: prospective outcome study with a minimum 2-year follow-up.
METHODS
Prospective longitudinal study with a minimum 2-year follow-up.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term outcome of a group of patients with chronic discogenic low back pain who had failed to improve with comprehensive nonoperative care and who were subsequently treated with intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET).


BACKGROUND
Previous reports of patient outcomes at 1 year after IDET have demonstrated statistically significant improvement.


METHODS
The study group comprised 58 patients with chronic symptoms of more than 6 months who failed to improve with nonoperative care and subsequently underwent IDET. VAS pain scores, SF-36 scores, and sitting tolerance times were collected pretreatment and at 6, 12, and 24 months.


RESULTS
Mean duration of pre-IDET symptoms was 60.7 months. The minimum follow-up at data collection was 24 months. The study group (n = 58) demonstrated a significant improvement in pain as demonstrated by statistically significant improvement in VAS scores and bodily pain SF-36 scores. The IDET-treated group demonstrated a significant improvement in physical function as noted by statistically significant improvement in sitting tolerance times and physical function SF-36 scores. Bodily pain and physical function scores demonstrated significant improvement between the 1- and 2-year observation points. Additionally, quality of life improvement was demonstrated by a statistically significant improvement in all the SF-36 subscales.


CONCLUSIONS
A cohort of patients with chronic discogenic low back pain who had failed to improve with comprehensive nonoperative care demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in pain, physical function, and quality of life at 2 years after IDET.
Saal
Jeffrey A
JA
SOAR, Physiatry Medical Group, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. gbdubuk@ix.netcom.com
Saal
Joel S
JS
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome