Basivertebral Nerve Ablation (Intracept® Procedure)

What is basivertebral nerve ablation (the Intracept Procedure)?

Basivertebral nerve ablation is also known as the Intracept Procedure. It is a minimally invasive lower back pain treatment for a specific type of chronic lower back pain called vertebrogenic pain.

What causes vertebrogenic pain

Damage to the vertebral endplates can cause vertebrogenic pain. These endplates are thin layers of tissue that cover the top and bottom of each vertebra. They function as a barrier between your vertebrae and the discs in your spine.

Everyday wear and tear, along with degenerative changes in the spine’s discs, can put stress on the endplates. This stress can damage them, leading to inflammation and pain.

The pain signals travel through a nerve called the basivertebral nerve, which runs through each vertebra. This nerve carries the signals from the damaged endplates to your brain, causing vertebrogenic pain.

How the Intracept Procedure treatment works

The Intracept Procedure relieves vertebrogenic pain using radiofrequency ablation to heat the basivertebral nerve. This heat blocks the nerve from sending pain signals to the brain.

People who are candidates for this procedure often report chronic pain in the middle of their lower back, on both the left and right side. The pain is made worse by:

• Physical activity
• Prolonged sitting
• Bending forward
• Bending and lifting

Your back pain doctor will determine if you are a candidate for the Intracept Procedure. This treatment option is prescribed for people who have:

• Experienced chronic low back pain for at least six months
• Tried conservative, nonsurgical treatments such as medications, injections and physical therapy but did not find relief
• Received MRI results that indicate damage to the vertebral endplates that have led to inflammation

What to expect with basivertebral nerve ablation

Basivertebral nerve ablation is an outpatient procedure, so you are in and out of the hospital the same day. This procedure is minimally invasive and does not involve any implants, thus preserving the structure of the spine.

During the procedure, your surgeon will create a small incision in your back. They will use fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance to insert a thin tube into the affected vertebral body. Your surgeon will use the tube as a channel to insert a radiofrequency probe into the trunk of your basivertebral nerve.

They will apply heat to ablate the nerve. This damage prevents the nerve from sending pain signals to your brain. Once the surgical team removes their instruments, they will close your incision with sutures. Typically, you can go home a few hours later.

Intracept procedure recovery time

You may experience slight soreness in the incision area for a few days. After the procedure, you will need to avoid rigorous activities for several days. Most people fully recover within one to two weeks.

Most people realize significant pain relief for five years or more following a single treatment.