Acute histologic effects and thermal distribution profile of disc biacuplasty using a novel water-cooled bipolar electrode system in an in vivo porcine model.

Background: Thermal treatment of the lumbar intervertebral disc has been suggested for the treatment of chronic discogenic pain. Disc biacuplasty (D-BAC) is a novel procedure that uses two water-cooled radiofrequency electrodes in a bipolar configuration to heat a large volume of the posterior annulus fibrosus.

Methods: Seven porcine lumbar discs were treated with D-BAC to assess acute effects on the treated tissue in a "worst-case"in vivo model.