• Jan Van Zundert, Pascal Vanelderen, Alfons Kessels, and van KleefMaartenM.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Campus André Dumont, Stalenstraat 2, 3600 Genk, Belgium. Jan.VanZundert@zol.be
• Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2012 Feb 1; 16 (1): 192519-25.

AbstractPain originating from the lumbar facet joints is estimated to represent about 15% of all low back pain complaints. The diagnostic block is considered to be a valuable tool for confirming facetogenic pain. It was demonstrated that a block of the ramus medialis of the ramus dorsalis is preferred over an intra-articular injection. The outcome of the consequent radiofrequency treatment is not different in patients reporting over 80% pain relief after the diagnostic block than in those who have between 50% and 79% pain relief. There is one well-conducted comparative trial assessing the value of one or two controlled diagnostic blocks to none. The results of the seven randomized trials on the use of radiofrequency treatment of facet joint pain demonstrate that good patient selection is imperative for good clinical outcome. Therefore, we suggest one block of the ramus medialis of the ramus dorsalis before radiofrequency treatment.

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