conclusion lumbar medial branch nerve block under ultrasound guidance was associated with high rates of treatment success and excellent treatment outcomes for facet joint pain. it is also feasible and administers no radiation. thus, ultrasound-guided procedures can be used instead of conventional methods. results the success rate was 98% (87/89 blocks), which was due to our use of ultrasound gu...

Radiofrequency facet ablation (RFA) has been performed using the same technique for over 50 years. Except for variations in electrode size, tip shape, and change in radiofrequency (RF) stimulation parameters, using standard, pulsed, and cooled RF wavelengths, the target points have remained absolutely unchanged from the original work describing RFA for lumbar pain control. Degenerative changes ...

BACKGROUND The purpose was to explore possible risk factors of facet joint violation induced by adjacent superior vertebral pedicle screw during the minimally invasive surgery transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). METHODS A total of 69 patients with lumbar degenerative disease, who underwent MIS-TLIF were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative computed tomography images were use...

background and aims:  using methods such as pulsed radiofrequency (prf) and nerve blocks are among the methods used in pain clinics to treat facet-originating low back pain. this study compares two methods of pulsed radiofrequency and facet joint block (fjb)regarding pain recovery and improving disability of patients suffering from facet-originating low back pain. material and method: 50 patien...

Facet joint injection is considered to be a safe procedure. There have been some reported cases of facet joint pyogenic infection and also 3 cases of facet joint infection spreading to paraspinal muscle and epidural space due to intra-articular injections. To the author's knowledge, paraspinal and epidural abscesses after facet joint injection without facet joint pyogenic infection have not bee...

BACKGROUND Facet tropism is the angular asymmetry between the left and right facet joint orientation. Although debatable, facet tropism was suggested to be associated with disc degeneration, facet degeneration and degenerative spondylolisthesis in the lumbar spine. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between facet tropism and facet degeneration in the sub-axial cervical sp...

STUDY DESIGN Radiologic imaging measurement study. PURPOSE To assess the accuracy of detecting lateral mass and facet joint injuries of the subaxial cervical spine on plain radiographs using computed tomography (CT) scan images as a reference standard; and the integrity of morphological landmarks of the lateral mass and facet joints of the subaxial cervical spine. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE Inj...

BACKGROUND Facet (zygapophysial) joints may be clinically important sources of chronic cervical spinal pain. Previous studies have demonstrated the value and validity of controlled, comparative local anesthetic blocks in the diagnosis of facet joint pain, and reported an overall prevalence of 36% to 67% facet joint involvement in cervical spinal pain. The reports of lumbar facet joint-involveme...

CONTEXT Facet or zygapophysial joint blocks are used extensively in the evaluation of chronic spinal pain. However, there is a continuing debate about the value and validity of facet joint blocks in the diagnosis of chronic spinal pain. The value of diagnostic facet joint injections may have been overlooked in the medical literature. OBJECTIVES To determine the accuracy of facet joint blocks ...