The minimally invasive technique utilizes a device invented by Michael Heggeness, MD, PhD, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. During the procedure, the surgeon ablates the nerves with the human vertebral bone that transmit the pain signals produced at vertebral endplates adjacent to the degenerated discs.
At least 16 human patients with chronic isolated lower back pain have been treated with this procedure successfully. Treatment was limited to the L2, L4, L5 and S1 vertebrae and patients experienced significant improvement in Oswestry Disability Index scores at all periods after surgery. Visual Analog Pain Scale values were also decreased from a preoperative value of 41.1 to an average of 45.6 at the one-year follow-up.
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