Intradiscal electrothermal therapy for the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain

The early studies on IDET are very promising. IDET offers patients with chronic discogenic low back pain an option other than chronic pain [figure: see text] management or spinal fusion. Studies currently under way will help answer questions relative to mechanism of action, placebo effect, and biomechanical changes after treatment. The cost, morbidity, and currently observed degree of effectiveness make IDET an attractive alternative to spinal fusion for discogenic pain. This may be especially true for the young patient with preserved disc height, and patients with inoperable multilevel disease. The technology was designed to be used for a specific diagnostic subset of disc disorders by specialists skilled in performing intradiscal techniques who possess the ability to accurately diagnose and effectively manage patients with complex spinal disorders. Abuse of this ground-breaking technology can be avoided if patient selection criteria are carefully observed and only skilled, technically proficient physicians perform the procedure.