Basivertebral nerve ablation is a targeted treatment for appropriately selected patients with chronic vertebrogenic low back pain associated with vertebral endplate changes.
The basivertebral nerve carries pain signals from the vertebral endplates. In patients whose history, examination, and MRI support vertebrogenic pain—often including Modic type 1 or type 2 endplate changes—the nerve can be accessed within the vertebral body and ablated using radiofrequency energy.
Candidacy depends on the diagnosis, prior treatment, examination, imaging when appropriate, medical history, and the expected risk-benefit profile.
Chronic axial low back pain consistent with vertebrogenic pain
MRI findings that correlate with vertebral endplate pain, commonly Modic type 1 or 2 changes
Failure of an appropriate course of conservative treatment
Exclusion of another dominant pain generator that better explains the symptoms
Confirm a vertebrogenic pain pattern and review lumbar MRI
Select the symptomatic vertebral levels
Percutaneous access to the vertebral body
Radiofrequency ablation of the basivertebral nerve target
Potential risks include bleeding, infection, fracture, nerve injury, injury to adjacent structures, temporary pain flare, incomplete pain relief, and anesthesia-related complications.
Results vary, and no procedure can guarantee pain relief or functional improvement.
Renova Pain physicians Jack Diep, MD, and Selaiman Noori, MD, are coauthors of peer-reviewed 2026 research examining basivertebral nerve ablation, lesion strategies, early response patterns, and longer-term clinical outcomes. Research participation does not determine whether this treatment is appropriate for an individual patient.
Odonkor CA, Poole E, Nguyen ET, Padilla A, Siddique MU, Harris C, Noori S, Diep J, et al. Pain Medicine. 2026. doi:10.1093/pm/pnag057. PMID: 42015883.
A multicenter retrospective cohort study evaluating basivertebral nerve ablation lesion strategies and clinical outcomes in patients treated for vertebrogenic low back pain.
Odonkor CA, Siddique MU, Dodurgali MR, Palaniappan S, Harris C, Noori S, Diep J, et al. Interventional Pain Medicine. 2026;5(2):100799. doi:10.1016/j.inpm.2026.100799. PMID: 42290902.
A prospective multicenter observational cohort examining early pain-response trajectories after basivertebral nerve ablation and their relationship to 12-month outcomes.
Published research is provided for education and physician-background information. Study findings cannot predict an individual patient's outcome.