|
IDET BACK SURGERY
The
Back/Low Back Pain
The back, or spine, is
a column of bones called vertebrae. A fluid-filled cushion, or disc, in
between each vertebrae prevents them from rubbing together. Running
through the center of the spine is the spinal cord, a network of nerve
fibers that extend from the base of the brain to the lower back.
Low back pain is a common problem. It affects four out of five adults at
some point in their lives. Low back pain is the most common reason for
sick days in those under 45 and one of the most common reasons for
visits to physicians.
Treating Back Pain: IDET
A common cause of back
pain is deterioration of the covering of the spinal disc. Initial
treatment is rest, medications, and physical therapy. When pain is
severe or chronic and conservative measures don't help, a patient may be
referred for surgery. In spinal fusion, surgeons remove the diseased
disc. Then, a small section of bone from elsewhere in the body (usually
the hip) is placed between the two vertebrae on each side of the disc.
As the donor bone segment heals, it fuses the two discs, hopefully
supporting the spine and eliminating pain.
Some surgeons are using
another, less invasive, therapy for patients with degenerative discs,
called Intradiscal ElectroThermal(TM) Therapy, or IDET. Using X-rays for
guidance, the physician inserts a needle into the diseased disc. An
electrode-tipped wire is passed through the needle to the damaged area.
Then, the electrode is slowly heated -- up to about 194 degrees F -- for
about four minutes. After the needle is removed, a small bandage is
placed over the spot. The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes and
uses local anesthesia and mild sedation. The patient goes home about an
hour later. Activities are restricted for a few days to allow healing.
IDET destroys
the tiny nerve endings just inside the disc. The treated area also
contracts, making the fibers shorter, thicker, and stronger. In just a
few weeks after surgery, 80 percent of patients are pain-free and have
better mobility.
|
