Vertebrogenic Pain Is Understood
How Patients Describe Vertebrogenic Pain
Patients who find relief from the Intracept Procedure often describe pain in the middle of their low back that is made worse by physical activity, prolonged sitting, and bending forward, or with bending and lifting.1
Vertebrogenic Pain Has a Clear Diagnosis
To confirm that a patient has vertebrogenic pain, physicians use MRI to look for specific changes that occur with endplate inflammation, which are called Modic changes.
Ablating the Basivertebral Nerve Is the Key
The basivertebral nerve enters through an opening in the back of the vertebral body and branches near the center of the vertebral body, sending nerves to innervate the superior and inferior endplates. These nerve endings transmit pain signals from the endplate to the brain and have been shown to increase in number with endplate damage or degeneration. 2-4
The Latest Living Proof
Dr. Kiran V. Patel shares with NBC News’ TODAY how the Intracept Procedure positively changed the life of her patient suffering from vertebrogenic low back pain.
The Annual ASPN PAIN Conference
Modic Changes and Chronic Low Back Pain
Modic changes and associated endplate damage strongly correlate with chronic low back pain.
Proven Relief of Vertebrogenic Pain
NEARLY 80%
LESS THAN 0.3%
AFTER 5 YEARS, 65% OF
patients reported they had resumed the level of activity they enjoyed prior to low back pain in a recent long-term study.
BASED ON OVER 30 YEARS
of research.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and considerations associated with the Intracept Procedure. See important safety information below.
Patients: See the Indications & Risks Involved
The Intracept® Procedure is indicated for patients who have had chronic low back pain for at least six months, who have tried conservative care for at least six months, and whose MRI shows features consistent with Modic changes – indicating damage at the vertebral endplates has led to inflammation.
Not every patient who meets these criteria is a candidate for the Intracept Procedure, however – in fact, there are specific characteristics indicating a patient should not be considered for the procedure. These contraindications include being pregnant, having weakened cardiac or pulmonary function, having an implanted electronic medical device in the body (such as a pacemaker or defibrillator), being diagnosed with a systemic or local infection, or having an anatomy that could be damaged unintentionally while ablating the basivertebral nerve (based on your physicians’ clinical review). The Intracept Procedure is also contraindicated in patients who are skeletally immature – which generally means individuals under the age of 18 are not candidates. There are also certain risks and precautions regarding the procedure which you should be aware of before proceeding.
Talk with your doctor about what indicates, and contraindicates, certain patients for the Intracept Procedure – as well as the risks and precautions for the procedure.
Physicians: See Indications, Contraindications, and Risks
The Intracept Procedure Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System is intended to be used in conjunction with radiofrequency (RF) generators for the ablation of basivertebral nerves of the L3 through S1 vertebrae for the relief of chronic low back pain of at least six months duration that has not responded to at least six months of conservative care, and is also accompanied by features consistent with Type 1 or Type 2 Modic changes on an MRI such as inflammation, edema, vertebral endplate changes, disruption and fissuring of the endplate, vascularized fibrous tissues within the adjacent marrow, hypointensive signals (Type 1 Modic change), and changes to the vertebral body marrow including replacement of normal bone marrow by fat, and hyperintensive signals (Type 2 Modic change).
Use of the Intracept Procedure Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System is contraindicated in:
- Patients with severe cardiac or pulmonary compromise
- Patients where the targeted ablation zone is < 10 mm away from a sensitive structure not intended to be ablated, including the vertebral foramen (spinal canal)
- Patients with active systemic infection or local infection in the area to be treated
- Patients who are pregnant
- Skeletally immature patients (generally < 18 years of age)
- Patients with implantable pulse generators (e.g., pacemakers, defibrillators) or other electronic implants
- Situations where unintended tissue damage may result, based on the clinical assessment by the physician
- Application with electrosurgical instruments NOT tested and specified for use with the Relievant RFG
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and considerations associated with the Intracept Procedure. To review the contraindications, warnings, and precautions click here.
- Koreckij T, Kreiner S, Khalil JG, Smuck M, Markman J, Garfin S. Prospective, randomized, multicenter study of intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation for the treatment of chronic low back pain: 24-month treatment arm results. NASSJ. Published online October 26, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xnsj.2021.100089
- Fras C, Kravetz P, Mody DR, Heggeness MH. Substance P-containing nerves within the human vertebral body: an immunohistochemical study of the basivertebral nerve. The Spine Journal: Official Journal of the North American Spine Society. 2003;3(1):63-7.
- Bailey JF, Liebenberg E, Degmetich S, Lotz JC. Innervation patterns of PGP 9.5-positive nerve fibers within the human lumbar vertebra. Journal of Anatomy 2011;218(3):263-70.
- Lotz JC, Fields AJ, Liebenberg EC. The Role of the Vertebral End Plate in Low Back Pain. Global Spine J 2013;03:153-64.