With regard to Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) for Low Back Pain the ICSI Technology Assessment Committee finds:
There is no convincing evidence that shows the short or long-term clinical efficacy of this procedure. Only subjective outcomes from case series and one non-randomized trial have been reported. Blinded, randomized studies comparing the procedure to a placebo treatment or alternative treatments such as spinal fusion have not been done and are needed to develop any conclusion about efficacy of the procedure (Conclusion Grade III).
The procedure is acceptably safe when performed by a physician trained in IDET, experienced in the diagnosis and management of low back pain, and experienced in the placement of needles into the intravertebral disk. Short-term studies have indicated few adverse effects of IDET, but information on long-term effects is limited.
The long-term effects of thermal coagulation of the disk are unknown at this time.