title: Percutaneous radiofrequency facet denervation in low-back and extremity pain.
abstract: The present series includes 47 patients (35 females 12 males) with an average observation time of 8 months after percutaneous lumbar facet denervation by radiofrequency electrocoagulation. All patients had static and kinetic lumbar pain; 90% of them had pain radiating into the legs. None had clinical or radiologic (radiculography and/or CT scan) evidence of a lumbar disc herniation, and all had exhausted conservative therapy. All but one had provocation of their habitual pain on arthrography of the relevant intervertebral lumbar joints and/or on intraoperative stimulation prior to electrocoagulation. 22/47 of the patients had no immediate or late beneficial effect of the electrocoagulation. Eight of the remaining 25 patients had satisfactory relief of pain at follow-up. The failures included all patients with previous multiple lumbar operations except for three.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D003714:Denervation / Q000379:methods*; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D011846:Radio Waves; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies