Thermal Annuloplasty Procedures - TA
Thermal Annuloplasty for chronic back pain and sciatica only
Thermal Annuloplasty Procedures - TA PROCEDURES
A. TA for Degenerative Disc Disease
This procedure is commonly used for low back pain secondary to degenerative
disc disease. This procedure enables a high percentage of patients
to get relief of their back pain without undergoing a high-risk
open operation, such as lumbar fusion. Preoperatively, the patient
receives a lumbar discogram. If the discogram reveals a degenerated
disc, and the injection re-produces the patient's pain, then he
is considered an excellent candidate for this surgery.
B. TA for Low Back Pain associated with Herniated Lumbar Discs
Since 1999, Dr. Schiffer has been using TA with LED
(Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy) for the low back pain associated
with sciatica (leg pain) caused by a herniated lumbar disc. This
technique does not require a preoperative lumbar discogram.
Surgical Procedures
At surgery, the patient is given sedation by an anesthesiologist
and the back is "numbed" with local anesthesia. Then a
special thermal catheter is inserted into the disc under fluoroscopic
control. The probe heats the inside of the disc for approximately
15 minutes. When this occurs, it is believed that the painful micro-fissures
in the annulus of the disc seal over and the tiny nerve filaments
that supply the disc are desensitized. In addition, over the next
three months, the collagen bonds in the annulus tighten and the
disc is ultimately remodeled.
Most of the studies that have been published so far report approximately 70% good
results for low back pain. In addition, if the procedure is done
in combination with LED (Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy) approximately 80% of
the patients are also relieved of their leg pain and sciatica.
The procedure is outpatient, extremely low risk and the results
suggest that it is effective in a high percentage of cases. For
more information, or if you are interested in the procedure, please
contact our office.
For more information about Thermal Annuloplasty, please contact
Dr. Schiffer.
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