IDET is the acronym for Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy.

Generally, this is an outpatient procedure performed in the case of disc herniation. The procedure is normally done under local anesthesia.

Surgical procedure: the steps.

1. Generally, you will be given local anesthesia
2. All the procedure is performed under live video X-Ray.
3. A needle is inserted into the disc. The location of the needle is constantly verified with live video X-ray.
4. An electrothermal catheter (similar to a heating wire) is inserted through the needle and conducted to the damaged part of the disc.
5. The temperature of the wire is gradually increased to 194 Fahrenheit degrees (or 90 Celsious degrees)  
6. The hot wire increases the temperature of the disc wall (or annulus).
7. The heat contracts and thickens the material (mostly collagen) of the disc wall and raises the temperature of the nerve endings. This may result in contraction of the disc wall fissure and a reduction in the swell of the nucleus. The heat causes also the desensitization of the pain sensors within the disc.