Via Disc Procedure

What the Via Disc NP procedure Involves:

The VIA Disc NP procedure is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure intended for degenerated lumbar intervertebral discs. Your intervertebral discs cushion the spine and provide flexibility to support your body’s ability to bend, twist, and rotate. Over time, your intervertebral discs can degenerate and dehydrate, resulting in discogenic low back pain.

The VIA Disc NP procedure works by delivering nucleus pulposus tissue allograft to your degenerated lumbar disc(s) through a spinal needle under fluoroscopy guidance.

The procedure is safe and provides a minimally invasive option for intervertebral disc degeneration.

What is discogenic pain:

Degenerated discs are characterized by decreased disc height, loss of water content and loss of nutrient content. These functional biomechanical alterations present as cracks and fissures within your disc. Altogether, the structural changes in the degenerated disc strain the nerves, put focal pressure on the spine, and ultimately cause pain.

How do patients describe discogenic pain:

• Midline low back pain (back pain>leg pain)
• increased pain when bending forward
• sitting intolerance
• increased pain with daily activities such as driving, tying shoes, sneezing, coughing, straining to have a bowl movement
• exacerbation of pain during the sustained hip flexion maneuver
• incomplete relief with epidural steroid injections (ESI’s), radiofrequency ablations (RFA’s), medial branch blocks (MBB’s), or SI joint injection

How does Via Disc NP work?

Age-related wear and tear of the IVD can cause loss of hydration and degeneration

VIA Disc NP is delivered into the degenerated IVD through a 20G spinal needle

After delivery, VIA Disc NP supports the cushioning function of the IVD and supplements tissue loss in the degenerated IVD

What can I expect during the Via Disc procedure?

The VIA Disc NP procedure is performed under strict sterile conditions. The VIA Disc NP procedure can be performed under local anesthesia or moderate sedation may be recommended by your physician. A procedure involving your pain generating intervertebral disc can be painful.

During the procedure, your physician will use fluoroscopy, a type of imaging scan, that allows your physician to guide a needle through the skin and muscle into the center of the intervertebral disc. VIA Disc NP will slowly be delivered into the center of the intervertebral disc.

How do I know if I’m a candidate for Via Disc NP?

The Via Disc NP procedure is indicated for patients who have:

• chronic low back pain
• a MRI that shows a degenerative disc
• tried conservative care for at least six months

What can I expect after the procedure?

You may experience pain and soreness after the procedure, which is normal. This pain may be due to increased pressure within your intervertebral disc. It is important to follow your physician’s instructions after the procedure. You may be instructed to return to your normal daily routine and limit physical or strenuous activity for 72 hours post-procedure. You may experience moderate to severe pain after an injection into an intervertebral disc, and oral medications (e.g. analgesics, steroid dose pack, muscle relaxants) may be prescribed by your physician to treat post-procedure pain and discomfort. An ice pack may be given to place over the injection site in the event of post-injection site tenderness. Your physician may suggest a back brace or recommend physical therapy to make you feel more comfortable following your procedure. A follow-up appointment may be scheduled two to four weeks post-procedure to monitor your pain and comfort. Additional follow-up appointments may be scheduled at the discretion of your physician to assess your condition.