Basivertebral Nerve Ablation – Intracept Procedure

Background – Chronic, axial (midline) low back pain can be very difficult to accurately diagnose and treat leading many patients to be defined as suffering from non-specific, low-back pain. Chronic low back pain treatment has focused on the intervertebral disc for years. Unfortunately, treatments aimed at the vertebral disc have not produced great results. The vertebral endplates provide nutritional support for the disc and structural support for the spine. The endplates are densely innervated by the Basivertebral Nerve located within the vertebral body. Mechanical loading can damage the vertebral endplate resulting in swelling in the vertebral endplate that can be seen on MRI. Recent research indicates that the vertebral endplates can generate significant pain.

The Intracept Procedure – The Intracept procedure is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure targeted to ablate or destroy the Basivertebral Nerve in the vertebral body to significantly improve chronic, axial low back pain. The procedure maintains the normal spine architecture and does not use an implant. Level 1, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trials demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the Intracept procedure with the procedure leading to statistically significant pain relief and functional improvement.