Anesthesiology Commons^™

Evaluation Of Medial Branch Blocks For Lumbar Facet Joint Radiofrequency Ablation: What Is The Role Of The Second Diagnostic Block?, Alexandra Bartholomew, Noah Hoffman, David Provenzano, Todd Sitzman

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Lumbar medial branch (LMB) radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a commonly performed procedure to treat facet joint-mediated pain. One of the challenges associated with LMB RFA is appropriately selecting patients for the procedure. Currently, patient history, physical examination, and diagnostic studies inadequately select patients for RFA. Therefore, diagnostic local anesthetic blocks are often recommended, yet the type and number of blocks needed to appropriately select patients for LMB RFA are debated. Success rates have been shown to be higher when dual blocks are employed; however, there are additional costs, humanistic factors, and risks of excluding individuals that may benefit from RFA. …