Radiofrequency stimulation of intervertebral discs.

Pain physician · 2003 · Unclear · Very low evidence

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UnclearVery low evidencePaper 3689

In five consecutive patients studied with an intraannular electrode (Radionics discTRODE), it was found impossible to selectively stimulate axial pain fibers. Radicular stimulation was observed in all patients at all levels studied.

Study snapshot

PublicationPain physician · 2003

Study typecase_report

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

The etiology of discogenic pain is poorly understood. The most accepted theory has been that nociceptors in the outer one-third of the annulus fibrosis are responsible for transmitting pain secondary to internal disc disruptions. The concept of "neoneuralization" after disc injury has been disseminated. It has been noted that disc degeneration and injury are associated with ingrowth of neural fibers into the disc annulus. One mechanism of Intradiscal Electrodothermal Therapy (IDET) has been thought to be lesioning of these nociceptors. Five consecutive patients were studied using an intraannular electrode. The Radionics discTRODE was used. It was found impossible to selectively stimulate axial pain fibers using this system. Radicular stimulation was noted in all patients at all levels studied. The implication of these findings concerning the concept of neoneuralization, mechanism of IDET, and possible strategies to decrease discogenic pain are discussed.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecase_report

Effect directionunclear

PopulationPatients with discogenic pain undergoing intraannular electrode stimulation

Sample size5

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Ability to selectively stimulate axial pain fibers
Occurrence of radicular stimulation during stimulation

Limitations

Very small sample size (five patients)
Consecutive case series without a control/comparator
Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, duration) not reported in the abstract
Clinical outcomes beyond stimulation patterns (e.g., pain relief) not reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_report",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "medical procedure (intraannular electrode; IDET/radiofrequency stimulation)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Patients with discogenic pain undergoing intraannular electrode stimulation",
  "sample_size": 5,
  "outcomes": [
    "Ability to selectively stimulate axial pain fibers",
    "Occurrence of radicular stimulation during stimulation"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In five consecutive patients studied with an intraannular electrode (Radionics discTRODE), it was found impossible to selectively stimulate axial pain fibers. Radicular stimulation was observed in all patients at all levels studied.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Very small sample size (five patients)",
    "Consecutive case series without a control/comparator",
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, duration) not reported in the abstract",
    "Clinical outcomes beyond stimulation patterns (e.g., pain relief) not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "discogenic pain",
    "intervertebral disc",
    "annulus fibrosus",
    "nociceptors",
    "neoneuralization",
    "intradiscal electrodothermal therapy",
    "IDET",
    "radiofrequency stimulation",
    "radicular stimulation",
    "discTRODE"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: Not supplied
PubMed: 16871294

Read the original paper →