Interventional and Minimally Invasive Procedures

Image-Guided Spine Specific Injections

Our interventional spine specialists are experts at utilizing x-ray guidance to deliver powerful anti-inflammatory medication cortisone) safely and precisely to the potentially inflamed swollen spinal structure responsible for your symptoms. This more specific approach replaces the more traditional method of general blind epidural injections, which are non-specific and performed without x-ray guidance. 

Percutanous Disc Decompression via Nucleoplasty

This minimally invasive outpatient spinal procedure is utilized to decompress or relieve pressure on a spinal nerve from a small to medium sized herniated disc. A catheter is inserted into the herniated disc under x-ray guidance and a special type of radiofrequency energy field called coblation, or controlled ablation, creates channels within the center of the herniated disc allowing for the herniated portion to resorb back to fill the channel via a negative pressure effect and relieve the pressure on the spinal nerve. IV pain medication is given throughout the procedure to control discomfort.

Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy/Annuloplasty (IDET)

This minimally invasive outpatient spinal procedure is utilized to relieve low back pain emanating from structural lesions within an internally compromised painful disc. A catheter is inserted into the outer portion of the painful disc under x-ray guidance. Then, a wire is guided through the catheter around the outer rim of the disc positioned to cover any cracks or tears within the disc. Once in position, the wire is heated to 90 degrees C over 16.5 minutes. This process can potentially tighten the loose protein molecules of the disk, seal painful cuts and tears in the outer portion of the disk, and cauterize small pain producing nerve fibers within the outer rim of the disc resulting in a firmer and less painful disk. IV pain medication is given throughout the procedure to control discomfort.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used for the treatment of compression fractures of the spine, usually due to osteoporosis. A person with multiple compression fractures might appear hunched, with a rounded back. With kyphoplasty, a surgeon inserts and then inflates a balloon into the fractured vertebrae to create a cavity within the bone. The cavity is then filled with bone cement to strengthen the bone. After the procedure, most patients report a dramatic improvement in pain, quality of life, and the ability to participate in everyday activities.