Intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty.
Low back pain is a common problem, and although the majority of cases of low back pain resolve, a subset of patients will continue to have intractable pain despite appropriate conservative treatments. Intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty is a minimally invasive spinal procedure that has been proposed to treat provocation discography-proven internal disk disruption syndrome. The early uncontrolled and nonrandomized intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty literature suggests it may provide some relief in a small proportion of strictly defined patients; however, more recent randomized, placebo-controlled trials have not substantiated these initial findings. This article will review the published literature, indications, contraindications, safety, and efficacy of the intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty procedure for the treatment of chronic, intractable, axial back pain.
Chou
Larry H
LH
Sports and Spine Rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Penn Medicine at Radnor, University of Pennsylvania, Radnor 19087, USA.
Lew
Henry L
HL
Coelho
Paul C
PC
Slipman
Curtis W
CW
D000075202:Contraindications; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome