Intracept Procedure

Chronic low back pain impacts millions of people in the United States. While there are many causes of chronic low back pain, one causes pain from inside the bones of the spine called vertebrae. Research now suggests that vertebrae are the source of pain, and many patients diagnosed with this pain. And this pain is transmitted via a nerve inside the vertebra called the Basivertebral nerve.

OVERVIEW

The Intracept procedure is a minimally invasive treatment that stops pain signals from this nerve following a small incision and introducer is advanced into the vertebra. A curved instrument is then passed through the introducer to create a channel to the base vertebral nerve. A probe is placed at the trunk of the nerve to deliver heat. Stopping transmission of pain signals.

1. ACCESSING THE PEDICLE

Following a small incision an introducer is advanced into the vertebra. See illustration 1.

2. CREATING THE CHANNEL

A curved instrument is then passed through the introducer to create a channel to the base vertebral nerve, as shown in illustration 2.

3. PLACING THE RF PROBE

A probe is placed at the trunk of the nerve to deliver heat. Stopping transmission of pain signals. See illustration 3.

4. RECOVERING FROM THE PROCEDURE

After the procedure, the doctor covers the injection site on your skin with a small bandage. 

The procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete. You can return home after this same-day surgery,

In two clinical trials, patients that received the intercept procedure experienced significant reductions in pain and improvements in daily function, with improvements in the treatment arm for the Smart trial lasting longer than five years after the procedure. The intercept procedure is a proven durable treatment option for the relief of chronic low back pain.