Meadville, P.A., - Meadville Medical Center (MMC) announces that the first
Intracept procedure was performed on February 12, 2021 at MMC by Haibin
Wang, M.D., Ph.D, Pain Management Physician at Meadville Pain Management,
Meadville.
Haibin Wang, M.D., Ph.D., noted "I am very excited to be able to
offer this technology to the community, and I am looking forward to helping
more patients with chronic lower back pain."
Chronic lower back pain is one of the most common clinical complaints,
and changes in the lumbar vertebral endplate can be one of the many causes.
The vertebral endplate is the transition region between a vertebral body
and the intervertebral disc. It is innervated by the basivertebral nerve.
Degenerative processes can disrupt the integrity of vertebral endplate.
In MRI images, these are called Modic changes. As a result, the basivertibral
nerve overgrows and becomes sensitized. The mechanical force from lumbar
activity can activate those sensitized nerves and produce axial type lower
back pain.
The Intracept procedure is a cutting-edge technology, specifically designed
for treating vertebral endplate-induced lower back pain. Patients who
have over six months of chronic axial lower back pain, have failed conservative
treatments and have specific Modic changes on lumbar MRI, may become candidates
for the Intracept procedure.
Using a minimally invasive approach, the physician places a special type
of electrode next to the basivertebral nerve within the vertebral body
to ablate the nerve. Once the nerve is ablated, patients are expected
to achieve long term relief for their axial lower back pain.
The Intracept procedure is done as an outpatient under sedation. A typical
case takes about 1-2 hours. There is no incision, no post-operational
recovery or physical therapy needed. Several randomized placebo-controlled
clinical trials have shown that the Intracept procedure is safe and effective
for appropriate candidates.