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IDET

Intradiscal Electrothermic Therapy (IDET) is a minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure that has been designed to help eliminate chronic pain that’s caused by a bulging or herniated intervertebral disc. It is important to keep in mind that IDET only treats very minor disc problems in which the disc itself is the source of pain. IDET is not recommended for bulging discs and herniated discs that go beyond the disc wall and press upon spinal nerve roots and/or the spinal cord.

This comparatively new procedure introduces a heating element to a weakened disc in an attempt to shrink and strengthen the disc. IDET is believed to be a safe procedure that has little to no side effects and has shown encouraging results in early studies.

IDET is sometimes an appropriate treatment for a fraction of patients with a bulging disc or herniated disc. When a patient is experiencing back pain or neck pain because of a damaged intervertebral disc, and all other conservative treatment options have proven ineffective, then IDET may be considered if the disc damage is minor and is localized to the disc. Medical imaging procedures are also necessary to confirm the disc disorder diagnosis and ensure there isn’t a larger underlying problem.

The typical IDET technique is performed as follows:

• A surgeon introduces a catheter and a heating element into the affected disc through a small incision
• Once in place, the probe is slowly heated to 194 degrees Fahrenheit
• This heat shrinks and strengthens the disc’s wall and also cauterizes the nearby nerve endings that are causing the back pain
• The procedure lasts about an hour

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While an IDET has shown promising results for treating very minor disc problems, it is important to remember that it is not effective for treating more serious disc disorders, such as bugling and ruptured discs that are pressing on spinal nerves and causing pain, weakness, tingling, and numbness in the extremities. However, for a select qualified segment of the population, the IDET technique seems to be a relatively easy treatment for back pain.

If you are experiencing back or neck pain, contact the award-winning staff at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, and to find out if you are a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure. The good news is that even if the source of your pain cannot be fixed with an IDET, there are a number of other effective, outpatient, spinal procedures currently offered by LSI to help you find relief. These endoscopic laser surgeries can treat a much wider variety of disc problems than IDET, with similar advantages.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.