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Anyone have any experience with this? If so how have results been and were you able to get it approved. Thanks.
There is supposedly someone in the Bay Area doing it at an ASC, and they are working with the ASC I work with, which is part of the same network (HCA) to get pricing nailed down.This can only be done in hospital settings due to costs and poor reimbursement in ASC and clinic settings. Keep that in mind.
Any reason the same results can't be obtained by sticking a 16g(or 4) rf cannula in the disc?
It’s very modestly profitable in an ASC for Medicare right now.they are probably losing money then.
the equipment costs are prohibitive to do it in an ASC. then I looked in to this, the ASC would lose about $3000 per case.
Medicare approves it fairly easily. And private insurers usually approve it eventually. The company has its own team that works on insurance approvals.Which insurers are actually paying for INTRACEPT?
Cool. Let us know how it goesOur hospital just got the machine. Neurosurgery has done a few cases. IR was trained. We have our first cases coming up.
Updates? Intracept rep came by, he's discussing pricing options with the ASCOur hospital just got the machine. Neurosurgery has done a few cases. IR was trained. We have our first cases coming up.
I've done about 20. Very impressed. Results consistent with studies.Updates? Intracept rep came by, he's discussing pricing options with the ASC
What CPT code do you use? I thought it was originally L3 only but he said it was L3-S1I've done about 20. Very impressed. Results consistent with studies.
The cynical part of me thinks that’s just so they can deny it more efficientlyIt’s getting a CPT code next year.
Agree. I’m worried the same thing will happen.The cynical part of me thinks that’s just so they can deny it more efficiently
like genicular and SI joint ablation
That’d be cold as ice and I wouldn’t be surprisedThe cynical part of me thinks that’s just so they can deny it more efficiently
like genicular and SI joint ablation
3 mo ODI data?The majority do well, and by well I mean 75-100% relief within 1-2 weeks. These are patients with severe pain and disability who really have no options other than fusion, which is not that effective for axial pain. Pain seems more anterior column, MBB/RFA didn't work, disc degeneration too severe for PRP/BMAC, no nerve compression, not SI. That's the impressive part--they are ready for fusion, and you can permanent cure them with a 1 hour procedure with no downtime, nothing implanted in them. Patients are ecstatic and think you're a miracle worker.
The lack of predictability is the kicker. I've had about 3 perfect candidates, perfect placement, minimal relief. Hugely disappointing, but at least no harm done. I chalk it up to the lack of specificity of Modic changes. We've all seen people with terrible Modic changes on MRI but minimal axial pain or pain that was successfully treated with RFA. Maybe I will try PNS for causalgia for the failures.
n=20 for me, 50 total for my group
Look at the Fischgrund, Macadaeg, and Khalil studies if you want 3+ mo ODI. I'm sure they're not robust enough for you. Placebo response to this but nothing else? Curious what your approach is to these patients? Keep them on opioids? Def level 1 for that.3 mo ODI data?
Placebo response?
Sham wow.
Acceptance. DLS. Ultram and occl nsaid.Look at the Fischgrund, Macadaeg, and Khalil studies if you want 3+ mo ODI. I'm sure they're not robust enough for you. Placebo response to this but nothing else? Curious what your approach is to these patients? Keep them on opioids? Def level 1 for that.
What is a cultural phenomenon?Acceptance. DLS. Ultram and occl nsaid.
This is a cultural phenomenon and not something I believe we have reasonable treatment for. For patients who disagree with me, they can seek care elsewhere. They come back after this fails, fusion fails. They then agree to do DLS, CBT. Then I offer SCS. Win win. Except for the patient.
I believe the data to be clear. It’s all about payment now.
Prospective, randomized, multicenter study of intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation for the treatment of chronic low back pain: 12-month results - PubMed
BVN ablation demonstrates significant improvements in pain and function over SC, with treatment results sustained through 12 months in patients with chronic low back pain of vertebrogenic origin.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
What is a cultural phenomenon?
I still don't understand what you're getting at. It's cultural so we shouldn't even try? Btw my Intracept patients have been age mid 30s to 70s, all races and ethnicities, different socioeconomic statuses, 2 are immigrants, none on opioids.This is a cultural phenomenon and not something I believe we have reasonable treatment for.
Why would you make them go through that algorithm? Try the least invasive first. Ok, do DLS and CBT first, but try Intracept before surgery or SCS. SCS isn't a slam dunk for axial pain, especially mechanical, and those studies are no better than the Intracept ones you're ripping.fusion fails. They then agree to do DLS, CBT. Then I offer SCS
I still don't understand what you're getting at. It's cultural so we shouldn't even try? Btw my Intracept patients have been age mid 30s to 70s, all races and ethnicities, different socioeconomic statuses, 2 are immigrants, none on opioids.
Why would you make them go through that algorithm? Try the least invasive first. Ok, do DLS and CBT first, but try Intracept before surgery or SCS. SCS isn't a slam dunk for axial pain, especially mechanical, and those studies are no better than the Intracept ones you're ripping.
You respect Doug Beall. Ask him what he thinks.
Fair enough. I just think that you should do some because you're good at kypho and being salaried, the questionable reimbursement doesn't limit your ability like it limits others in PP. But if you're not comfortable with the risk-benefit ratio and research, that's your call.When I tell folks we have no good treatment for DDD I tell them the options and the current state of the literature. I trll them they can keep looking and gor 50 years we have not had great treatment. I tell them who does bvna and fusions. They go elsewhere and are welcome back if they try and fail. I do SCS on those that fail other treatment elsewhere.
Define "good".When I tell folks we have no good treatment for DDD I tell them the options and the current state of the literature. I trll them they can keep looking and gor 50 years we have not had great treatment. I tell them who does bvna and fusions. They go elsewhere and are welcome back if they try and fail. I do SCS on those that fail other treatment elsewhere.
That sounds good to me. Like Noom but for pain.Define "good".
I would argue we have pretty good treatment but patients don't want to do it.
It requires expressive writing, acceptance-commitment therapy, core strengthening, good sleep patterns, diet changes, often weight loss, movement therapies such as yoga, dealing with demons in the past, self-love/self-discover, etc.
Well that recipe could apply to about 90% of what we do and we would have much better results than the interventions we doDefine "good".
I would argue we have pretty good treatment but patients don't want to do it.
It requires expressive writing, acceptance-commitment therapy, core strengthening, good sleep patterns, diet changes, often weight loss, movement therapies such as yoga, dealing with demons in the past, self-love/self-discover, etc.
Acceptance. DLS. Ultram and occl nsaid.
This is a cultural phenomenon and not something I believe we have reasonable treatment for. For patients who disagree with me, they can seek care elsewhere. They come back after this fails, fusion fails. They then agree to do DLS, CBT. Then I offer SCS. Win win. Except for the patient.
The sky is blue.Show me the data for CBT and Modic changes.
The sky is blue.
Despite your posts you are still not in the running to be the next kol.C'mon, man, with an epidemic of vertebrogenic back pain, why aren't scientists studying this?
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Sounds like you’ve done a fair amount of these. Do you find them to be technically more difficult or easier than kypho? Debating whether I want to go down this roadFair enough. I just think that you should do some because you're good at kypho and being salaried, the questionable reimbursement doesn't limit your ability like it limits others in PP. But if you're not comfortable with the risk-benefit ratio and research, that's your call.
I think they're easier, very low risk. Vertebral bodies are squares not wedges. Don't have to worry about pulmonary or other extravertebral cement spread.Sounds like you’ve done a fair amount of these. Do you find them to be technically more difficult or easier than kypho? Debating whether I want to go down this road
Axial LBP >6 mo with Modic changes.Rolotomassi
Can you tell me what the typical patient you are doing these on?
history
Physical
Previous
Tests
Etc
Axial LBP >6 mo with Modic changes.
Best if history and exam more consistent with anterior column (pain with flexion, twisting, sitting, sustained hip flexion test, axial pain with SLR; less with standing, walking, extension, facet loading). However this is all very nonspecific. Difficult to rule out discogenic contribution based on the above as well but there are no great discogenic options anyway. Presence of severe DDD to where there's not much disc left to be painful also strengthens confidence.
Usually negative MBB/RFA first but in younger patients with no facet arthropathy and negative posterior element history/PE I'll go straight to Intracept.
Presence of radicular pain or stenosis does not deter me if >50% pain is axial and ESI did not help with axial component.
I can find some pics of recent cases.
We're seeing spikes in vertebrogenic and Modic-related back pain.