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Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain with Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET): 24 Months Follow-Up in 50 Consecutive Patients

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Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Therapy for Spine and Nerves

Part of the book series: Acta Neurochirurgica Supplementum ((NEUROCHIRURGICA,volume 108))

Abstract

Background: Degeneration of the intervertebral disc can be the source of severe low back pain. Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with symptomatic internal disc disruption nonresponsive to conservative medical care.

Methods: Using MRI and discographic findings, 50 patients with lumbar discogenic pain were identified, underwent IDET treatment and were followed for 24 months. Outcomes included assessments of back pain severity by an 11-point numeric scale and back function by the Oswestry disability index (ODI).

Findings: There was an average 68 and 66% improvement in pain and ODI, respectively, between pre-treatment and 24 months (p < 0.0001 for both comparisons). The global clinical success rate was 78% (39 of 50). Clinical success was associated with discographic concordance (p < 0.0001), HIZ (p = 0.003), Pfirrmann grade (p = 0.0002), and percent annulus coverage (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that durable clinical improvements can be realized after IDET in highly selected patients with mild disc degeneration, confirmatory imaging evidence of annular disruption and concordant pain provocation by low pressure discography.

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Conflict of interest statement We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery Ospedale Fatebenefratelli E Oftalmico, Milano, Italy

    Roberto Assietti, Mario Morosi, Giovanni Migliaccio & Luigi Meani

  2. 2210 Jackson Street Suite 401, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA

    Jon E. Block

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  1. Roberto Assietti
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  2. Mario Morosi
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  3. Giovanni Migliaccio
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  4. Luigi Meani
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  5. Jon E. Block
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Correspondence to Jon E. Block .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto per lo studio e la cura delle, mallettie del sistema nervoso perif., European Neurosurgical Institut, Via Ghirada 2, Treviso, 31100, Italy

    Alberto Alexandre

  2. University of Planalto Central and South, School of Medicine, SCN Qd 05 Bl. A Sala 912, Brazil, Brazil

    Marcos Masini

  3. Florence and Rome University, Via Jacopo Nardi 15, Florence, 50132, Italy

    Pier Paolo Maria Menchetti

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Assietti, R., Morosi, M., Migliaccio, G., Meani, L., Block, J.E. (2011). Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain with Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET): 24 Months Follow-Up in 50 Consecutive Patients. In: Alexandre, A., Masini, M., Menchetti, P. (eds) Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Therapy for Spine and Nerves. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplementum, vol 108. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-99370-5_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-99370-5_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-99369-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-99370-5

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