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    How Electrothermal Catheter Therapy Works

    Low back and leg pain is often because of damage to 1 or more of the disks between the vertebrae. Electrothermal therapy uses heat to change the structure of the tissue inside the disk. It doesn’t relieve pain right away. Pain is reduced as the disk heals. After healing, the disk may also be stronger and more stable than before. This treatment is also called intradiscal electrothermal therapy.

    Inside the disk

    First, a needle is inserted into the disk. Then a special flexible wire (catheter) is threaded through the needle, so that it curves around the inside of the disk. When the catheter is in place, part of it is next to the damage in the disk.

    Top view of lumbar vertebra and disk showing needle inserting cathether into disk.
    The catheter is threaded through a needle into the disk.

    Heating the disk

    Once the catheter is in place, it's heated slowly to a high temperature. The catheter is kept at that temperature for a few minutes. Then it's removed. The heat may deaden nerves in the disk, preventing these nerves from causing pain. The heat may also make the disk shrink. This may mean that the disk no longer presses on nerves. The heated tissue will slowly heal over the next few months and form scar tissue. This scar tissue may:

    • Plug any leak in the disk

    • Make the disk stronger

      Top view of lumbar vertebra and disk showing cathether heating disk.
      The catheter heats the disk, causing changes in the disk material.

    Risks and possible complications

    The risks and complications of electrothermal catheter therapy include:

    • Bleeding

    • Spinal fluid leak

    • Infection

    • Nerve damage

    • Worsened pain after recovery

    • No improvement of pain

    Online Medical Reviewer: Jennifer Ciccone NP
    Online Medical Reviewer: Jessica Gotwals RN BSN MPH
    Online Medical Reviewer: Sravani Chintapalli
    Date Last Reviewed: 9/1/2024
    © 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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