title: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation of dorsal ramus branches as a treatment of "lumbar facet syndrome"--How I do it.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low back pain is an extremely common and often chronic condition. In some cases, this is due to an irritative arthropathy of zygapophyseal joint involving the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of the spinal nerve. Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation appears to be the most effective treatment to date, among a range of different treatments. In this paper, the technique is described as performed at out institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  In supine position and under fluoroscopic control, a radiofrequency electrode is inserted into different articular zygapophyseal complexes to thermocoagulate ramifications of the medial branch of the dorsal primary ramus of the spinal nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluoroscopic-guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation of dorsal rami branches is a safe and reliable technique for the treatment of lumbar facet syndrome. Careful selection of patients based on clinical presentation and positive anesthetic block test are key points for an optimum outcome.
authors.affiliation: School of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino- IST, Università di Torino, Università degli studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy. mattiapacetti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pacetti
authors.affiliation: School of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino- IST, Università di Torino, Università degli studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fiaschi
authors.affiliation: U.O. Neurochirurgia, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino- IST, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gennaro
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000601:surgery; D016683:Supine Position; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Chronic low back pain; Pain management; Spine; Thermocoagulation