Percutaneous coblation of the intervertebral disc for low back pain and sciatica

The procedure

This procedure is done under local anaesthesia, with the patient sedated and lying face down. It aims to relieve low back pain and sciatica by removing tissue from the damaged disc.

A needle is inserted into the disc using X‑ray guidance. A thin flexible tube (electrode) is then passed through the needle, into the disc. The electrode is heated, destroying the tissue around it, and then taken out. This is repeated about 6 times during the procedure.