Correlating SPECT-CT activity in cervical facet joints with positive response to cervical medial branch blocks.

Introduction: Cervical facet arthritis is a significant source of neck pain and impaired function that is amenable to treatment with medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN). Identifying appropriate patients for this treatment requires integration of information from the history, physical exam and diagnostic imaging, but the current diagnostic standard for facet-mediated pain is positive comparative medial branch blockade (MBB). SPECT-CT has recently been evaluated as a potential predictor of positive medial branch blocks with mixed results.

Correlating SPECT-CT activity in lumbar facet joints with response to lumbar medial branch and L5 dorsal ramus blocks.

Introduction: Lumbar facet arthritis is a significant source of back pain and impaired function that is amenable to treatment with medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN). Identifying appropriate patients for this treatment requires integration of information from the history, physical exam, and diagnostic imaging, but the current diagnostic standard for facet-mediated pain is positive comparative medial branch blocks (MBBs). Lumbar SPECT-CT has recently been evaluated as a potential predictor of positive MBBs with mixed results.