 The
Dallas Morning News
January 25, 1999
Surgical technique may ease sting of back pain
A new, innovative medical procedure appears to be providing much-needed
relief for chronic back pain sufferers.
The minimally invasive technique, hailed by some as the spine's version
of arthroscopic joint surgery, is being used to treat degenerated and
herniated disk problems - the gradual or sudden damage that causes
discs to lose the ability to absorb the loads and shock placed on them.
Intradiscal electrothermal therapy involves navigating a catheter
via a needle into the affected discs, which usually contain areas of
torn collagen that cause inflammation and place pressure on a network
of nerves. The surgeon gradually administers heat to shrink collagen-laden
tissue within the disc, killing nerve endings and sealing holes in
the outer layers of the disk.
The result for patients is a decrease in pain and improvement in spinal
function, says Dr. John Peloza, a Dallas-based spine specialist with
the Center for Spine Care, and one of a handful of doctors performing
the procedure as part of a national multicenter study.
Dr. Peloza's patients have included Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy
Lazier and US Olympic skier Kiki Cutter.
"It is a breakthrough," says Dr. Peloza, also the spine
consultant to the US ski team. "If it works the way it is going
so far and gives us long-term results, it could be a nice alternative
to fusion for people with back pain."
Unlike the more invasive fusion surgery, which involves fusing vertebral
bones above and below the removed disc, this new outpatient therapy
takes about an hour to perform. Patients ca generally return to work
in a week and gradually ease back into their daily routine, which includes
aggressive spinal rehabilitation.
An estimated 80 percent of Americans will suffer from back pain at
one time or another. Yet, most back pain goes away by itself. Still,
next to the common cold, back pain sends more people to the doctor
than any other ailment.
Despite the strides in surgical techniques, Dr. Peloza still views
surgery for back problems as a last resort. A candidate for intradiscal
electrothermal therapy typically experiences back pain or pain that
has spread into the buttock, thigh or groin.
The vast majority of people with back pain don't require anything
outside of aggressive conservative management, which includes flexibility
and strength training, and manual therapy, says Dr. Peloza
"If you go on for four to six months with back pain resistant
to conservative care, then you should probably see someone," he
says.
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