title: Accuracy of CT guidance of lumbar facet joint block.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lumbar facet joint block is generally performed under fluoroscopic guidance. The purpose of this study was to assess the technical success rate of facet joint block under CT guidance. The CT scanner was operated tableside with a step-and-shoot mode for intermittent needle visualization, and the amount of radiation used to perform the procedures was estimated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided facet joint block is safe and rapid. Use of CT ensures reliable needle guidance with extremely high procedural accuracy at an effective radiation dose comparable to that of a procedure performed with 1 minute of fluoroscopic guidance.
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St, MSC 323, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. weininge@musc.edu
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Weininger
authors: Jared C
authors: JC
authors: Mills
authors: Zoran
authors: Z
authors: Rumboldt
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Bonaldi
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Huda
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Cianfoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local