The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the benefits of intra discal electrothermal treatment (IDET) for discogenic back pain.

40 patients with chronic discogenic back pain underwent this therapy. All the patients had a failed trial of conservative treatment. Patients with a positive provocative discogram were selected for IDET. The outcome is assessed using a SF36 questionnaire pre-procedure and then at 3,6,12,18 and 24 months post-operatively.

The mean age group of the patients was 37 years (range 15–58 years). All the patients had a minimum follow up of 18 months. Out of the 40 patients 5(12.5%) had no improvement and had to undergo an interbody fusion within 6 months following IDET and hence were excluded from the study. No patient developed any neurological complications. Of the rest of the 35 patients at a minimum of 18 months follow-up 56 % (p=0.042) patients had improvement in physical function scores and 52% (p=0.034) had improvement in pain scores as per the SF36.

Conclusion: IDET appears to be an effective alternative to control pain in patients who might otherwise be candidates for spinal fusion.