Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) for treatment of chronic lumbar discogenic pain: a minimum 2-year clinical outcome study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term efficacy of IDET in the treatment of chronic lumbar discogenic pain.


METHODS
Prospective case series clinical outcome study.


METHODS
IDET was performed on 62 consecutive patients with chronic discogenic pain of greater than 6 months duration and consecutively enrolled in a non-randomized prospective case series outcome study. Outcome measures included visual numeric pain scale (VNS) for low back (LB) and lower extremity (LE) pain, Roland-Morris disability scale (RM), and North American Spine Society (NASS) patient satisfaction index. Outcome success was defined as a change of more than 2 points on VNS and RM as well as a positive NASS satisfaction response. Data were collected at baseline and post-procedure at 1, 3, and 6 months and then annually for up to 4 years.


RESULTS
Fifty-one out of 62 patients (82%) were available for a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Average age was 41.4 years; average symptom duration was 46 months; and average follow-up was 34 months. Overall, there was statistically significant improvement in LB-VNS, RM, and LE pain scores of 3.2, 6.6, and 2.3 (p<0.001), respectively. Twenty-seven of 51 (53%) patients demonstrated clinically significant VNS and RM improvements of greater than 2. On NASS index, 63% (32/51) responded positively. Neither the number of disc levels treated nor the insurance status of patients made any difference in outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
IDET appears to be an effective treatment for chronic lumbar discogenic pain in a well-selected group of patients with favorable long-term outcome.
Lee
Michael S
MS
Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th St., New York, NY 10021, USA. leemi@hss.edu
Cooper
Grant
G
Lutz
Gregory E
GE
Lutz
Christopher
C
Hong
Hoyman M
HM