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cure back pain

Facet Rhizotomy

Facet Rhizotomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure done to relieve confirmed facet joint syndrome symptoms. This procedure is used primarily on patients who have received positive results from several rounds of epidural injections into the facet joint. The fact that the injections relieved the pain gives the doctor a strong indication that the pain is indeed being caused by the facet joints and not some other structural concern.

Facet Rhizotomy


Facet Rhizotomy Procedure

The patient is given a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. The doctor inserts a needle or thin catheter into the area where the small sensory nerves meet the affected facet joint. This needle is viewed under live x-ray (fluoroscopy). An electrical current will be sent through the needle to make sure that it is in the correct proximity to the affected nerve. The catheter contains a tiny electrode that is heated up using radiofrequency waves. This heat stuns or kills the nerve endings, blocking the pain in the joint. The procedure takes between 30 to 60 minutes to complete and the patient can return home almost immediately.

There are a 2 main varieties of radiofrequency waves, steady and pulse. Steady waves simply heat the area till the doctor feels that the nerve has been sufficiently silenced. Pulse waves are used in very sensitive areas, such as the neck. These waves are emitted in highly concentrated bursts. The damage to surrounding nerves is minimized with the usage of pulse wave technology.

Risks of Facet Rhizotomy

The procedure might be minor, but it is still a variety of back surgery and does have some risks. There is the chance for infection, continued bleeding or damage to other spinal nerves. There is also the chance of an unsuccessful outcome and continuing pain. This surgical approach offers moderately successful curative results, although often, the relief is short lived.

Recommendation on Facet Rhizotomy

This procedure is another of the high-tech minimally invasive alternatives to traditional surgery. Therefore, it is a good option for those patients who have decided on a surgical route. The procedure has a very low risk factor and has acceptable statistics for relieving confirmed cases of facet joint pain. The procedure is worth a try, since more invasive operations can always be performed if the facet rhizotomy is not successful. The down side to this surgery is that the results only last 6 to 12 months on average. However, it is still a good choice for controlling pain in stubborn cases of facet joint syndrome.
Facet Rhizotomy to Back Pain Home 10/25/06 Revised 7/13/08

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