Racz catheter: The alternative to surgery

The Racz catheter method originated in the US. It is used to effectively eliminate the causes of long term back pain. The recognised therapy method was developed by Professor Gabor Racz, from which the corresponding name of the catheter is derived.

The Racz catheter is used for both chronic and acute spinal problems. The elastic catheter treats the pain directly at the root of the nerves. This ensures that the active substances are targeted and delivered directly to the desired nerve root.

This is the principle behind the Racz catheter

Pain treatment with the Racz catheter was developed with the aim of combating back pain directly at the site of its origin. The method is a highly recommendable alternative to surgery because the flexible Racz catheter is inserted directly into the spinal canal.

In this way, the Racz catheter can reach the area of the spine where the pain trigger is located. As soon as the probe reaches the place where the pain originated, for example the scar of a past operation or a slipped disc, different regenerating, anti-inflammatory or analgesic agents can directly reach the compressed or inflamed nerves.

This is how the treatment with the Racz catheter works

Under local anaesthesia, the special cannula, which is shown to be highly elastic, is pushed into the epidural space, i.e. the area between the hard meninges of the spinal cord and the vertebral body. For this, only a minimal incision of about two millimetres has to be made. If it is a matter of treating thoracic spine or lumbar complaints, this access is made near the coccyx. If, on the other hand, the cervical spine is affected by the pain, the affected area is accessed via the thoracic vertebrae.

The treatment is accompanied by continuous monitoring by an X-ray machine, which is why the control can be carried out very accurately and precisely. The catheter is made of a plastic tube with an elastic steel spring at the tip. The procedure takes about 30 minutes in total.

The operation needs to be repeated four times, which is why the patients are usually hospitalised for about two to three days at the clinic where the procedure is carried out. However, the following injections can then be administered directly via the catheter that is already in place. Patients do not have to stay in bed during the intervening periods of the individual applications – they can therefore move around completely freely.

Racz catheter: This is how it works

The Racz procedure is based on the fact that a combination of a concentrated saline solution and an anti-inflammatory or painkilling agent is precisely directed to the problematic nerve root. The osmotic principle is responsible for draining and swelling the inflamed tissue.

The semi-permeable membrane allows fluids to diffuse, but solids are not allowed to pass through. Thus, the fluid is pressed out of the tissue and the desired decongestion is achieved. Adhesions and scarring located near the spinal cord are additionally dissolved by injecting enzyme solutions.

Interested persons must be aware, however, that the costs for the proven procedure are not yet covered by all insurance companies today.