Medial Branch Neurotomy
Back or neck pain may be due to problems with certain nerves near your spine. If so, a medial branch neurotomy can help relieve your pain. The treatment uses heat, cold, or chemicals to destroy the nerves near a problem joint. This keeps some pain messages from traveling to the brain, and helps relieve your symptoms.
Medial Branch Nerves
Each vertebra in your spine has facets (flat surfaces). They touch where the vertebrae fit together. This forms a facet joint. Each facet joint has at least two medial branch nerves. They are part of the nerve pathway to and from each facet joint. A facet joint in your back or neck can become inflamed (swollen and irritated). Pain messages may then travel along the nerve pathway from the facet joint to your brain.
Blocking Pain Messages
Medial branch nerves in each facet joint send and carry messages about back or neck pain. Destroying a few of these nerves can keep certain pain messages from reaching the brain. This can help bring you relief.
Risks and Complications
Risks and complications are rare, but can include:
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Publication Source:
Cahana A, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 4(3), Do minimally invasive procedures have a place in the treatment of chronic low back pain?, May 1, 2004, pp 479-90
Publication Source:
Lau P, Mercer S, Govind J, Bogduk N, Pain Medicine (Malden, Mass.), 5(3), The surgical anatomy of lumbar medial branch neurotomy (facet denervation), Sep 2005, pp 289-8
Publication Source:
Schofferman, Jerome MD; Kine, Garrett MD, Spine, 29(21), Effectiveness of repeated radiofrequency neurotomy for lumbar facet pain., Nov 1, 2004, pp 2471-3
Online Medical Reviewer:
Bhattacharyya, Tim MD
Date Last Reviewed:
10/21/2004
Date Last Modified:
7/9/2002