Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy
Intradiscal electrothermal therapy, also known as
IDET,
is a minimally invasive surgical option for the
treatment of herniated discs.
The procedure has gained widespread acceptance in the medical community as a great alternative procedure to traditional spinal surgery for the correction of contained disc herniations. It is important that the outer disc wall remains intact, in order for the best treatment results to be achieved. This procedure is not recommended for
ruptured discs.
This minor operation is also sometimes called Intradiscal Electrothermal Annuloplasty (IDEA). Some specialists also use the technique to treat tiny nerve tissues which are theorized to invade the disc through small annular tears or even to seal the annular tears themselves.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy Benefits
IDET gives the patient a good chance to correct unresolved
disc pain
without undergoing the trauma and
risks
associated with full open spinal surgeries. Patients can have this procedure done as an outpatient and
recover
in a matter of weeks. The surgery is relatively common and is performed by many different types of doctors. There are also many variations on the procedure which can offer patients truly customized treatment results for a plethora of different diagnosed disc conditions. Some patients have found permanent
back pain relief
from this operation, either through successful physical resolution or strong surgical
placebo effect.
The technique is simple and still allows for more drastic follow up surgeries if required. Therefore, when the condition is indicated for treatment, the patient really has nothing to lose by trying IDET before acquiescing to a more involved surgery like discectomy, laminectomy or spinal fusion.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Annuloplasty Drawbacks
IDET is not as advanced as the
nucleoplasty
procedure, but is performed more often. Eventually, look for updated versions of both operations to become some the most common treatments for contained
herniated disc
injuries. The procedure shows good short term statistics, but many patients experience a relapse in symptoms within a year of having the operation. This may occur due to a misdiagnosis of the disc as the true causative issue. Any treatment, including
back surgery,
can fail if it is directed at an incorrectly identified causation. Remember that most herniated discs are statistically unlikely to be related to the incidence of chronic pain. However, poor or temporary treatment results may also occur due to the very common incidence of re-herniation after any type of corrective disc operation.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy Advice
If you are thinking about a surgical procedure, I highly recommend making sure that the diagnosed condition is the ACTUAL cause of the pain. The most common reason for surgical failure is
misdiagnosis
and no patient is immune to this epidemic phenomenon. Once you decide that surgery is right for you, try the least invasive procedure first. You can always move on to a full open surgery if more conservative procedures fail. IDET is a good example of a
minimally invasive back surgery
procedure which might just be the cure you are looking for. My last piece of advice is to find a doctor who will listen to you and make sure this is the right treatment for your particular condition. Never rush into surgery or allow a doctor to pressure or frighten you into compliance with a surgical prescription. Spinal surgery is a big deal and the idea should be considered very carefully before any final decision is made. Sure, IDET is a minor technique, but still demonstrates risks and should never be undertaken casually.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy to Back Pain
7/4/08 Revised 2/4/12
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