Annuloplasty procedures for chronic discogenic back pain

abstractRecently, several new minimally invasive intradiscal annuloplasty techniques for treatment of discogenic lower back pain have been introduced, but clinical evidence of their efficacy and extent of application is lagging behind. However, now we know that discTRODE annuloplasty and conventional intradiscal nuclear radiofrequency are ineffective in reducing pain and improving functional capacity. Intradiscal electrothermal therapy and intradiscal biacuplasty do produce positive therapeutic effect in an appropriately selected patient group. Based on procedural ease of radiofrequency needle placement, recent positive results from sham-randomized, prospective study, and lack of complications, biacuplasty is the only annuloplasty procedure that can be currently recommended as an appropriate minimally invasive lumbar disc annuloplasty.