Intradiscal electrothermal therapy for discogenic low back pain

Chronic low back pain constitutes a heavy burden for patients, their families and society, and it has major economic repercussions. The number of therapeutic approaches is increasing, but they are not always supported by evidence on their efficacy and safety. The Régie de l'assurance mala- die du Québec (RAMQ) thus wanted to know about the present status of intradiscal electrother- mal therapy.

Over the past few years, several systematic health technology assessments have examined the efficacy and safety of intradiscal electrothermal therapy, including two briefs published in 2004. This assessment confirms the previous ones, according to which the efficacy evidence for this technology is limited. As for its safety, all the assessments conducted thus far consider this mo- dality to be acceptably safe.

Given the seriousness of the disease and the lack of other proven treatments, the decision to no longer consider intradiscal electrothermal therapy an experimental technology can be considered reasonable. It is thus put in the same category as an innovation that could sustain the quality of care, but its methods of application and its indications need to be further specified.