Chapter 65 Intradiscal Techniques: Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy, Biacuplasty, Percutaneous Decompression Techniques

Question 1

normal disc anatomy

Answer 1

nociceptive fibers innervate only the outer third of the disc
annulus

Question 2

internal disc disruption (IDD)

Answer 2

defined as a “biochemical, biophysical, and morphologic disruption of
the nucleous pulposis and annulus fibrosis of the disc,” typically characterized by radial or circumferential fissures
extending from the nucleus pulposis into the outer layers of the annulus. These fissures can create a chronic inflammatory response within the disc resulting in neoinnervation,
upregulation of nociceptors and overall disc sensitization.

Question 3

Diagnostic Criteria for Internal Disc Disruption IDD

Answer 3

Disc stimulation is positive at low pressures (6/10 on visual analog scale.
Disc stimulation reproduces concordant pain.
Computed tomography discography shows a grade 3 or greater
annular tear (tear extends into the outer third of annulus)
Control disc stimulation is negative at one and preferably two
adjacent levels.

Question 4

Traditionally, discogenic LBP, or pain from IDD, has been treated with conservative care:

Answer 4

activity modification, opiate and nonopiate analgesic medication, physical therapy, steroidal
spine injections, chiropractic care, manual therapy, acupuncture, and other modalities

Question 5

when discogenic LBP

remains unresponsive to conservative treatments

Answer 5

Surgical arthrodesis or
disc replacement may be performed. complications can include infection,
pseudarthrosis and adjacent segmental instability

Question 6

a plausible technique to
ablate nociceptors and modify collagen of the annulus fibrosus
of painful discs

Answer 6

Radiofrequency ablation or thermal neurolytic treatment of the posterior annulus

Question 7

intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET)

Answer 7

the theory that thermal heating of the posterior and posterolateral disc annulus results in
collagen fiber contraction and neurolysis of nociceptors within a painful or sensitized intervertebral disc in addition to enhancement or stimulation of chondrocytes promoting
disc repair.

Question 8

In practice, IDET uses

Answer 8

a thermal resistive catheter placed
intradiscally at the site of a radial or circumferential annular fissure to deliver RF energy to the posterior intervertebral disc. This RF energy is converted into heat, resulting in a thermal lesion of the disc annulus and neurolysis of upregulated nociceptors. Temperatures at or above 65°C result in consistent shrinkage of unwound triple-helix collagen fibers

Question 9

proposed

mechanisms of pain reduction in IDET

Answer 9

post-IDET annular contraction, thermally
induced healing, sealing of annular tears, neurolysis of
nociceptors and decreased intradiscal disorder

Question 10

INTRADISCAL ELECTROTHERMAL
THERAPY
TECHNIQUE
Setup

Answer 10

IDET procedure is performed percutaneously. using
fluoroscopic guidance, a radiolucent table, and strict sterile technique. Parenteral antibiotics are typically delivered
to the patient preprocedurally. With the patient positioned
prone, local anesthesia is used to anesthetize the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and periosteum at the level at which the IDET will be performed.

Question 11

Sedation during IDET

Answer 11

Conscious sedation is
used to ensure patient comfort, though patients must be able to respond to commands and accurately report feelings of dysesthesias or radicular pain during needle placement,
catheter placement, and disc heating, if these occur.

Question 12

INTRADISCAL ELECTROTHERMAL
THERAPY
TECHNIQUE

Answer 12

Using an extrapedicular approach, an introducer needle is placed into the disc to be treated. Needle entry into the
disc is ventral to the superior articular process of the zygophyseal joint at the level IDET is to be performed. The introducer needle tip is precisely positioned halfway between the superior and inferior end plates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, just anterior to the midpoint of the disc on the lateral projection. A thermal resistive catheter is then navigated through
the introducer needle to the posterior annulus at the site of the previously diagnosed fissure or tear. The catheter is then heated to a maximum temperature
of 85° to 90° C. The avascular disc acts as a heat sink, allowing the disc to retain this delivered heat and effect collagen conformation distal to the catheter without causing nerve root or spinal cord damage

Question 13

The countercurrent

blood flow in the epidural and perineural vessels appear to have a neuroprotective effect

Answer 13

by preventing heat from
building up within neural tissue when the catheter is appropriately
placed intradiscally

Question 14

Most patients experience
their typical LBP during the heating protocol in IDET, often with vague aching into the buttocks or legs. This must be differentiated from

Answer 14

true radicular pain, specifically if these

symptoms are severe and occur early during disc heating

Question 15

in IDET, A high index of suspicion should be maintained to prevent

Answer 15

thermal injury of the cauda equina or the exiting nerve roots within the neural foramen

Question 16

If true radicular pain

occurs during the heating protocol in IDET

Answer 16

the intradiscal catheter

must be removed and/or repositioned

Question 17

Complications of catheters in IDET

Answer 17

Catheter kinking is known to occur, as is catheter breakage. When breakage occurs, it is typically at the connection of the catheter to the catheter hub, but it can occur
along the body of the catheter from damage incurred at the introducer needle tip. Kinking of the catheter can occur when the tip becomes lodged within a radial fissure
or circumferential tear.

Question 18

Management of Complications of catheters in IDET

Answer 18

The catheter should be withdrawn under these circumstances, and the introducer needle moved anteriorly or posteriorly prior to reinsertion
of the catheter more optimally. If a catheter is severely bent or kinked, it should be discarded and replaced. If removal of the catheter from the introducer needle is met
with resistance, the introducer and catheter should be removed en bloc and then positioned again separately. If the catheter cannot be navigated successfully across the length of a fissure, the introducer needle position can
be revised via a contralateral extrapedicular technique
with reattempts at optimal catheter placement.

Question 19

Following the procedure (IDET)

Answer 19

back bracing is recommended
for several weeks, followed by a lumbar stabilization and
reconditioning program.

Question 20

Possible Mechanisms of Action for Intradiscal

Radiofrequency Procedures

Answer 20

Alteration in spinal segment biomechanics via collagen modification
Thermal nociceptive fiber destruction
Biochemical mediation of inflammation
Stimulation of outer annulus healing process
Cauterization of vascular in-growth Induced healing of annular tears.

Question 21

Rare complications of IDET

Answer 21

These include catheter breakage, post-IDET disc
herniation, cauda equina syndrome,vertebral end
plate osteonecrosis, radiculopathy, headache, foot drop, decreased sphincter tone, fecal incontinence, and discitis

Question 22

Patients not

likely to benefit from IDET include those with

Answer 22

multilevel degenerative disc disease, overweight patients, and patients receiving worker compensation benefits

Question 23

Biacuplasty

Answer 23

or intradiscal bipolar water-cooled RF. Similar to IDET, biacuplasty
deploys thermal energy to the painful upregulated annulus, but in this case delivers bipolar RF energy via two
stiff adjacent electrode probes placed intradiscally. it causes intradiscal temperature changes that would allow for thermal neurolysis without concomitant
heating of adjacent neural tissues and vascular structures.

Question 24

Biacuplasty electrodes

Answer 24

electrodes are actively and internally cooled during the
ablation procedure with a peristaltic pump unit (Baylis
Medical Company, model TDA-PPU-1) that circulates
water through the probes to cool the electrodes,42 allowing
bipolar RF energy to heat annular tissue adjacent to
and between the two electrodes while the tissue in immediate
contact with each electrode probe is actively cooled.

Question 25

Through this active cooling system the bipolar RF energy produces a

Answer 25

larger volume of ionic tissue heating with concentrated current in the posterior disc and avoids tissue charring which results in rising impedance, unpredictable RF energy delivery, and ineffective intradiscal tissue heating.

Question 26

Peak tissue temperatures (in biacuplasty)

Answer 26

much lower with biacuplasty than those with IDET, offering an additional advantage of better procedural tolerability for patients.

Question 27

Technique for Intradiscal Biacuplasty

Setup

Answer 27

Obtain informed consent from patient.
Parenteral prophylactic antibiotic delivery.
Perform sterile prep and drape.
Identify level to be treated with fluoroscope.
Anesthetize skin/tissues, and administer light IV sedation as needed.
Confirm status of equipment/functioning biacuplasty electrodes,
introducer needles, generator, and water pump.

Question 28

Technique for Intradiscal Biacuplasty

Answer 28

Using an extrapedicular approach, Place two introducer needles into disc to be treated.

Needle tip placement is in the posterolateral nucleus–annulus junction, half-way between the superior and inferior end plates of the adjacent vertebral bodies.

Place biacuplasty electrodes into the introducer needles, noting the radiodense
markers on the electrodes in the posterior annulus, and confirm intradiscal placement with fluoroscopy.

Follow heating protocol; Bipolar RF heating is then initiated. The temperature
of the electrode remains at 45° C, while disc tissue temperature is heated to 55 to 60° C in the inner annulus and 45° C toward the edge of the annulus. monitor patient for any radicular symptoms.

Remove electrodes.
Administer intradiscal antibiotics.
Remove introducer needles.
Apply dressing to site.
Back brace for 4 to 6 weeks.

Question 29

all act as heat sinks, allowing the disc to retain this delivered heat and effect collagen conformation without causing nerve root or spinal cord damage

Answer 29

the avascular disc, epidural blood vessels, and countercurrent blood
flow and the CSF column

Question 30

Selection Criteria for Intradiscal Procedures

Answer 30

Low back pain of .6 mo duration
Nonresponsive to conservative treatment
Back pain greater than leg pain
Positive well-performed discography with a negative control
Presence of an annular tear
Disc disease limited to one or two levels
Disc height 50% of normal
Body mass index ,30
Age ,55 yr
No evidence of compressive radiculopathy other than diminished
ankle reflexes
Disc bulges #5 mm
No prior surgery at the treated level
No symptoms or signs of stenosis
No pending worker compensation or personal injury claims
No significant depression or psychiatric issues on exam or history
No tumor or metastatic disease to the lumbar spine
No systemic infection or localized infection at needle site
No coagulopathy or unexplained bleeding
No progressive neurologic defects
No history of substance abuse
No smoking

Question 31

Nucleoplasty

Answer 31

a method of percutaneous intervertebral disc decompression used for selected patients with persistent radicular pain due to small, contained herniated lumbar
discs or contained disc bulges unresponsive to conservative,
nonsurgical therapy.

Question 32

Percutaneous disc decompression

PDD

Answer 32

based on the principle that small decreases in
volume within an enclosed space will result in a disproportionately
higher drop in pressure.

Question 33

Nucleoplasty

Answer 33

RF energy delivered through a percutaneous
electrode to create a voltage gradient within the intervertebral
disc. A plasma field is then created between an
electrode tip within the disc and the surrounding nucleus pulposis, creating a discal temperature rise to 50° to 70° C. This intradiscal transmission of energy excites the surrounding
tissues, causing molecular bonds of the nucleus pulposis to break, vaporizing disc material into low molecular- weight gases (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide), which then exit the percutaneous needle. Thus, a small volume of the nucleus pulposis is removed, creating
a profound decrease in intradiscal pressure.

Question 34

in Nucleoplasty Decreased

annular wall stress allows

Answer 34

the intact annulus to retract from irritated neural tissue, thereby providing pain relief

Question 35

Nucleoplasty TECHNIQUE

Answer 35

After an introducer
needle is placed in the disc to be treated under fluoroscopic guidance via an extrapedicular approach, a nucleoplasty
electrode is then placed through the introducer
needle and advanced across the disc space to the adjacent nucleus-annulus interface at the contralateral, anterior
portion of the disc. A total of six channels with
60-degree angulation with each rotation of the probe are recommended for 3 min. Tissue ablation and coagulation is performed with each “pass” across the nucleus
pulposis, creating a single channel within the disc. After making six channels within the disc, a total of 1 cc of
intradiscal volume is removed via vaporization, with a significant
decrease in intradiscal pressure. Again, patients
should be awake and responsive during this procedure. Back bracing is not required following this procedure, nor is a protracted course of physical therapy. Patients
are typically able to resume normal activities within 1 to 2 weeks of the procedure

Question 36

complications of nucleoplasty

Answer 36

numbness

and tingling into the lower extremity, an increase in LBP, perineural fibrosis

Question 37

percutaneous disc probe

Answer 37

used for Percutaneous disc decompression (PDD). In contrast to nucleoplasty the
Dekompressor probe mechanically removes nucleus pulposus
material without RF energy or thermal heat. Disc material collects within a collection hub on this disposable device, and can be objectively measured or objectively
analyzed microscopically.