The Montefiore Einstein Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is one of the leading centers in the region offering basivertebral nerve ablation (BVNA), expanding treatment options for patients with vertebrogenic chronic axial low back pain. This often debilitating condition affects millions of people worldwide.

BVNA is a breakthrough, minimally invasive spinal procedure that targets the basivertebral nerve within the vertebral body, which carries nociceptive pain signals from damaged vertebral endplates, a source increasingly recognized in chronic axial low back pain. For appropriately selected patients, including those who have not found relief with other treatments, BVNA has demonstrated durable pain relief and improved function.

Performed under advanced image guidance, BVNA uses controlled radiofrequency energy to interrupt pain signaling at its source while preserving surrounding structures. The outpatient, implant-free procedure is typically brief, and many patients begin returning to normal activities within days of treatment.

Montefiore Einstein’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers access to the latest technologies for this procedure, including the Intracept™ system, which was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2025. By addressing the underlying cause of vertebrogenic pain, BVNA represents a significant advancement in the treatment of chronic spinal pain.

“Basivertebral nerve ablation represents a new frontier in how we approach chronic low back pain,” said Andrew I. Gitkind, MD, MHA, vice chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Montefiore Einstein. “For patients who have tried conservative therapies without success, this minimally invasive approach allows us to target pain at its source, helping patients regain comfort, mobility, and confidence in daily activities.”

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 833-734-2201 to learn how this innovative therapy can help relieve pain and restore movement.