Chronic Low Back Pain can be caused by many different associated structures in the low back. One possible cause is the vertebral body and it can diagnosed by MRI findings. The Intracept procedure is a definitive, minimally invasive treatment to stop the pain from the vertebral body.
The following images and video are Courtesy from Relievant MedSystems and Boston Scientific
With degeneration of the end-plates of the vertebrae, inflammation occurs. This can be seen on MRI imaging as whiter signal in the bone adjacent to the disc.
As the inflammation continues, there is an invasion of blood vessels that is stimulated by the natural chemistry that makes up inflammation. The blood vessels bring in more of that chemistry causing it to spread and worsen.
As the chemistry of inflammation continues is spreads from the bottom and top of the vertebral bodies increasing the fluid content in the bone marrow. This is what “lights up” on the MRI.
Pain from the inflamed vertbrae can be treated by the Intracept procedure. This minimally invasive procedure is performed in the OR, as an outpatient, with local anesthesia and sedation. A fluoroscope is used to place an electrode into the vertebral body to cauterize the basivertebral nerves that conduct pain signals from the upper and lower surfaces of the vertebrae.
This image shows the area where inflammation occurs. Patients typically present with back pain overlying the vertebral level(s) that are inflamed. The pain can spread from these areas radiating into the buttocks and upper parts of the legs. Due to this pathology, other structures in the spine such as adjacent nerves and also be inflamed.
Patient typically experience pain relief as early as one to two weeks after the procedure. Soreness in the back may occur for about a week, is expected after the procedure.