Facet joint injection
Updates to Article Attributes
Facet (zygapophyseal) joint injections are performed primarily for the diagnosis and differentiation of facet syndrome and radicular pain syndrome, and are one of the most frequently performed spinal interventional procedures, as both treatment for and diagnosis of . radicular pain syndrome and facet syndromeItThey can be performed under fluoroscopic, or CT image guidance, and cervical, thoracic or most commonly lumbarlumbosacral facet joints can be injected. Often the procedure is performed at, and one or multiple levels or bilaterallyjoints can be injected during one procedure.
Indications
- facet syndrome: both diagnostic (i.e. relief of pain after injection of local anaesthetic) and therapeutic
- chronic low back or neck pain
- low back pain (+/- sciatica) with normal imaging findings
- post-laminectomy syndrome
Contraindications
There are no specific absolute contraindications, but relative contraindications include 2:
- systemic infection or cutaneous infection over the injection site
- coagulopathy
- contrast reaction or other medication allergies
- pregnancy
- young age
- recent steroid injection in same/other joint
Procedure
Preprocedural evaluation
- history of presenting complaint: type, nature, severity, duration and location of back pain
- relevant medical and surgical history
- review relevant laboratory results
- review prior imaging
- counselling patient about onset, length and likelihood of pain relief
- gaining informed consent
Positioning/room set up
Cervical posterior/ thoracic/ lumbosacral
-
patient is typically in aprone position
Cervical lateral
- lateral, targetted side facing up
Equipment
- sterile dressing pack; sterile gown and gloves
- 10 mL syringe, hypodermic needle and local anaesthetic (e.g. lignocaine) for subcutaneous infiltration
- long spinal/ Quincke needle (typically 22 G), 3 mL syringe, steroid (e.g. betamethasone), long-acting local anaesthetic (e.g. ropivacaine, bupivacaine) for intra-articular injection
- contrast
(not always necessary(debated as periarticular injections seem to have the same result as intra-articular injections) - dressing
Technique
The typical capacity of a facet joint is approximately 2 mL. Injection of large volumes can cause capsular disruption, and discharge of the anaesthetic and steroid mixture into adjacent soft tissues, including the epidural space.
Fluoroscopic-guided
- content required
CT-guided
- time out
- patient prone, targeted planning scan with overlying biopsy grid and skin marking
- sterile preparation and drape
- subcutaneous infiltration of local anaesthetic
- advancement of the spinal needle under CT guidance to the targeted facet joint
- optional intra-articular injection of a small amount of contrast to assess intra-articular position
- injection of 1 mL steroid and 1 mL long-acting local anaesthetic
Post-procedure care
- pain score assessed immediately and 15-20 minutes post
procedure-procedure - observe for 20
-30minutes for any immediate complications - advise to complete pain diary for the next two weeks
Complications
Complications are rare 2, 3:
- infection, including septic arthritis and discitis-osteomyelitis
- allergic/anaphylactic reaction
- local reaction to steroid injection (usually >48 hours)
transient numbness/paralysis (should resolve in minutes)- bleeding
(e.g. fromvertebral arterypuncture)
Outcomes
Although early studies reported reasonable long term relief of symptoms (20-54%), more recent studies have suggested that steroid injection "is of little value". However, short term relief is common (59-94%) and therefore it remains a useful procedure, especially to confirm the diagnosis.
Practical points
- even with the use of local anaesthetic, facet joint injections can be sore and the patient should be advised this before starting the procedure
- many institutions now only will perform diagnostic facet joint injections, with the view to perform further treatment with a medial branch block(s)
-<p><strong>Facet </strong>(<strong>zygapophyseal</strong>) <strong>joint injections </strong>are one of the most frequently performed <a href="/articles/spinal-interventional-procedures">spinal interventional procedures</a>, as both treatment for and diagnosis of <a href="/articles/radicular-pain-syndrome">radicular pain syndrome</a> and <a href="/articles/facet-syndrome">facet syndrome</a>. It can be performed under fluoroscopic, or CT image guidance and cervical, thoracic or most commonly lumbar facet joints can be injected. Often the procedure is performed at multiple levels or bilaterally. </p><h4>Indications</h4><ul>- +<p><strong>Facet </strong>(<strong>zygapophyseal</strong>) <strong>joint injections</strong> are performed primarily for the diagnosis and differentiation of <a href="/articles/facet-syndrome">facet syndrome</a> and <a href="/articles/radicular-pain-syndrome">radicular pain syndrome</a>, and are one of the <a href="/articles/spinal-interventional-procedures">spinal interventional procedures</a>. They can be performed under fluoroscopic, or CT image guidance, and cervical, thoracic or most commonly lumbosacral facet joints can be injected, and one or multiple joints can be injected during one procedure. </p><h4>Indications</h4><ul>
- +<li>young age</li>
- +<li>recent steroid injection in same/other joint</li>
-</ul><h5>Positioning/room set up</h5><ul><li>patient is typically in a prone position</li></ul><h5>Equipment</h5><ul>- +</ul><h5>Positioning/room set up</h5><p>Cervical posterior/ thoracic/ lumbosacral</p><ul><li>prone position</li></ul><p>Cervical lateral</p><ul><li>lateral, targetted side facing up </li></ul><h5>Equipment</h5><ul>
-<li>long spinal needle (typically 22 G), 3 mL syringe, steroid (e.g. betamethasone), long-acting local anaesthetic (e.g. ropivacaine, bupivacaine) for intra-articular injection</li>-<li>contrast (not always necessary as periarticular injections seem to have the same result as intra-articular injections)</li>- +<li>long spinal/ Quincke needle (typically 22 G), 3 mL syringe, steroid (e.g. betamethasone), long-acting local anaesthetic (e.g. ropivacaine, bupivacaine) for intra-articular injection</li>
- +<li>contrast (debated as periarticular injections seem to have the same result as intra-articular injections)</li>
-<li>targeted planning scan and skin marking</li>- +<li>patient prone, targeted planning scan with overlying biopsy grid and skin marking</li>
-<li>pain score assessed immediately and 15-20 minutes post procedure</li>-<li>observe for 20-30 minutes for any immediate complications</li>- +<li>pain score assessed immediately and 15-20 minutes post-procedure</li>
- +<li>observe for 20 minutes for any immediate complications</li>
- +<li>advise to complete pain diary for the next two weeks</li>
-<li>transient numbness/paralysis (should resolve in minutes)</li>-<li>bleeding (e.g. from <a href="/articles/vertebral-artery">vertebral artery</a> puncture)</li>-</ul><h4>Outcomes</h4><p>Although early studies reported reasonable long term relief of symptoms (20-54%), more recent studies have suggested that steroid injection "is of little value". However, short term relief is common (59-94%) and therefore it remains a useful procedure, especially to confirm the diagnosis.</p>- +<li>bleeding </li>
- +</ul><h4>Outcomes</h4><p>Although early studies reported reasonable long term relief of symptoms (20-54%), more recent studies have suggested that steroid injection "is of little value". However, short term relief is common (59-94%) and therefore it remains a useful procedure, especially to confirm the diagnosis.</p><h4>Practical points</h4><ul>
- +<li>even with the use of local anaesthetic, facet joint injections can be sore and the patient should be advised this before starting the procedure</li>
- +<li>many institutions now only will perform diagnostic facet joint injections, with the view to perform further treatment with a medial branch block(s)</li>
- +</ul>
References changed:
- 4. Lungu E & Moser T. A Practical Guide for Performing Arthrography Under Fluoroscopic or Ultrasound Guidance. Insights Imaging. 2015;6(6):601-10. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-015-0442-9">doi:10.1007/s13244-015-0442-9</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26493836">Pubmed</a>