Objective:

To demonstrate the feasibility of basivertebral nerve ablation (BVNA) in a community practice setting to alleviate pain in patients suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Background:

Strong innervation of the vertebral endplates by the basivertebral nerve makes it an ideal target for ablation in the treatment of vertebrogenic CLBP. This data represents the clinical outcomes for 19 consecutively treated patients in a community setting. To our knowledge, this is the first independent clinical study on this novel procedure.

Design/Methods:

Evaluations were performed at baseline, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months and data recorded in Medrio electronic data capture software. Clinical improvements were recorded using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quebec Disability Scale and RAND-36 scale. Statistical analysis was performed using Graphpad Prism software. A non-parametric Friedman test followed by Dunn's post-hoc analysis was used with a significance level set at p=0.05. All the patients (n=19) completed the baseline, 1 month and 3 months follow-up at the time this abstract was prepared, and 14 had completed the 6-months follow-up.

Results:

The ODI, VAS and Quebec Disability Scales showed significant improvement at 1 month (p=0.019, 0.015, 0.019), 3 months (p=0.012, 0.030, 0.000) and 6 months (p=0.030, 0.001, 0.000). The average ODI was reduced by 26 points in 6 months, VAS by 53.2 % and the Quebec Disability Scale by 34.9 points. The pain, physical functioning, energy/fatigue and social functioning outcomes of the RAND-36 testing also showed significant improvement over the 6 months follow-up.

Conclusions:

Basivertebral nerve ablation appears to be a durable, minimally invasive treatment for the relief of CLBP which can be successfully implemented in a community practice setting.