Intradiscal electrothermic therapy (IDET) or intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty (IDEA) is a minimally invasive procedure to treat back pain caused by disorders of the spongy discs between the vertebrae of your spine, such as disc herniation.
Before IDET is performed, our doctors will perform a discogram to establish that a damaged disc is indeed causing your pain, and if so, which disc or discs is responsible.
IDET is a minimally invasive procedure in which a needle is guided via fluoroscopy (live x-ray) to the precise location of a damaged disc. Once the needle is in place, a catheter made of thermal resistive coil is threaded into the needle and into the disc. The catheter is heated, causing the collagen within the disc to contract, effectively reducing the herniation and improving the internal structural integrity of the disc. It also seals any fissures in the disc's outer covering (annulus) and desensitizes the tiny nerves that are associated with that disc.
Recovery from this procedure is gradual. Significant pain relief should be experienced within 8 weeks, and full healing occurs after about 4 months.
IDET is a needle-based procedure that our doctors perform in our freestanding facility in Dayton, Ohio. The procedure takes about an hour and requires no overnight stay.