Fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound neurotomy of the lumbar zygapophyseal joints: a prospective, open-label study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate safety and effectiveness of a fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system for thermal ablation of the lumbar medial branch nerves.

Methods: This dual center prospective cohort study enrolled 30 participants with lumbar zygapophyseal joint syndrome. Each participant previously had a positive response to either a single diagnostic analgesic block or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of the lumbar medial branch nerves: dose escalation study and comparison with radiofrequency ablation in a porcine model.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a common method for alleviating chronic back pain by targeting and ablating of facet joint sensory nerves. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging, non-invasive, image-guided technology capable of providing thermal tissue ablation. While HIFU shows promise as a potentially superior option for ablating sensory nerves, its efficacy needs validation and comparison with existing methods.

Fluoroscopy-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Neurotomy of the Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joints: A Clinical Pilot Study.

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of a fluoroscopy-guided, high-intensity focused ultrasound system for zygapophyseal joint denervation as a treatment for chronic low back pain.

Methods: The clinical pilot study was performed on 10 participants diagnosed with lumbar zygapophyseal joint syndrome. Each participant had a documented positive response to a diagnostic block or a previous, clinically beneficial radiofrequency ablation.

Tolerability and Feasibility of X-ray Guided Non-Invasive Ablation of the Medial Branch Nerve with Focused Ultrasound: Preliminary Proof of Concept in a Pre-clinical Model.

Four to six million patients a year in the United States suffer from chronic pain caused by facet joint degeneration. Thermal ablation of the affected facet joint's sensory nerve using radiofrequency electrodes is the therapeutic standard of care. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a novel technology enabling image-guided non-invasive thermal ablation of tissue.

In vivo measurements of medial branch nerve depth and adjacent osseous structures for ablation of facet-related back pain: Predictors for patient candidacy.

Background: Medial branch (MB) targeting during RF ablation for facetogenic back pain is usually performed with flouroscopic guidance yet no specific measurements on the target depth have been published. In order to understand candidacy for other potential ablation methods, we sought to determine the actual MB depth and measurements of adjacent osseous structures.

Methods: CT scans without contrast of the lumbar spine performed in the supine position were retrospectively analyzed in 100 patients.