O3174 OUTCOME FOLLOWING INTRADISCAL ELECTROTHERMAL THERAPY: PROSPECTIVE STUDY WITH MINIMUM ONE YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Abstract

Aims: The aim of our study was assess the outcome following intradiscal electrothermal therapy in patients with chronic discogenic back pain. Methods: 57 patients underwent IDET. All patients had an MRI and provocative discography to conþrm that their pain was of disco-genic origin. Pre-IDET, patients completed: a pain visual analogue score (VAS), an employment assessment and a pain diagram. Post-IDET assessment included a VAS, a subjective outcome assessment, an SF36 and an employment assessment. Results: 46 (80.7%) patients with a mean age of 41.2 years (range 16–76) were successfully followed up. IDET performed at one level in 48 patients and at two levels in 9. The mean follow-up was 19 months (Range 12–32 months). There were 27 males and 19 females. There were no serious complications. The mean pain VAS was 6.6 pre-IDET and 6.3 Post IDET (not signiþcant). 54% of patients stated that they were either Ç much better È or Ç a little better È. Subgroup analysis suggests that neither the presence of mild facet joint arthritis nor undergoing IDET at more than one level has an effect on outcome. Ç Non-organic È preoper-ative pain diagrams (as assessed by principles described by Mann et al) had a signiþcant negative effect on outcome, with patients in this group having a having a deterioration in VAS from 6.75 to 8.3 and only 10% stating that their pain was Ç a little better È and none Ç much better È. Conclusion: We believe that our study demonstrates that IDET can achieve satisfactory results in the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain, but that patient selection is important in achieving this outcome.