TA
Thermal Annuloplasty for chronic back pain and sciatica only

TA PROCEDURES
A. TA for Degenerative Disc Disease
This procedure is commonly used for low back pain secondary to degenerative disc disease. This procedure enables a high percentage of patients to get relief of their back pain without undergoing a high-risk open operation, such as lumbar fusion. Preoperatively, the patient receives a lumbar discogram. If the discogram reveals a degenerated disc, and the injection re-produces the patient's pain, then he is considered an excellent candidate for this surgery.

B. TA for Low Back Pain associated with Herniated Lumbar Discs
Since 1999, Dr. Schiffer has been using TA with LED (Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy) for the low back pain associated with sciatica (leg pain) caused by a herniated lumbar disc. This technique does not require a preoperative lumbar discogram.

Surgical Procedures
At surgery, the patient is given sedation by an anesthesiologist and the back is "numbed" with local anesthesia. Then a special thermal catheter is inserted into the disc under fluoroscopic control. The probe heats the inside of the disc for approximately 15 minutes. When this occurs, it is believed that the painful micro-fissures in the annulus of the disc seal over and the tiny nerve filaments that supply the disc are desensitized. In addition, over the next three months, the collagen bonds in the annulus tighten and the disc is ultimately remodeled.

Most of the studies that have been published so far report approximately 70% good results for low back pain. In addition, if the procedure is done in combination with LED (Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy) approximately 80% of the patients are also relieved of their leg pain and sciatica.

The procedure is outpatient, extremely low risk and the results suggest that it is effective in a high percentage of cases. For more information, or if you are interested in the procedure, please contact our office.

For more information about Thermal Annuloplasty, please contact Dr. Schiffer.

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