title: 6-month results of TransDiscal Biacuplasty on patients with discogenic low back pain: preliminary findings.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective observational study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim is to investigate the efficacy and safety of TransDiscal Biacuplasty.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chronic discogenic pain is one of the leading causes of low back pain; however, the condition is not helped by most non-invasive methods. The results of major surgical operations for these patients are unsatisfactory. Recently, attention has shifted to disk heating methods for treatment. TransDiscal Biacuplasty is one of the minimally invasive treatment methods. The method was developed as an alternative to spinal surgical practices and Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy for treatment of patients with chronic discogenic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The candidates for this study were patients with chronic discogenic pain that did not respond to conservative treatment. The main criteria for inclusion were: the existence of axial low back pain present for 6 months; disc degeneration or internal disc disruption at a minimum of one level, and maximum of two levels, in MR imaging; and positive discography. Physical function was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index when measuring the pain with VAS. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using a 4-grade scale. Follow-ups were made 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15 patients were treated at one or two levels. The mean patient age was 43.1 ± 9.2 years. We found the mean symptom duration to be 40.5 ± 45.7 months. At the sixth month, 57.1% of patients reported a 50% or more reduction in pain, while 78.6% of patients reported a reduction of at least two points in their VAS values. In the final check, 78.6% of patients reported a 10-point improvement in their Oswestry Disability scores compared to the initial values. No complications were observed in any of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TransDiscal Biacuplasty is an effective and safe method.
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. haktan@dicle.edu.tr
authors.forename: Haktan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tüfek
authors.forename: Gönül Ölmez
authors.initials: GÖ
authors.lastname: Kavak
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Zeynep Baysal
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Ersin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Feyzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Celik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014421:Turkey