The experience of denervation of facet joints in the lumbar spine

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the immediate and long-term results of denervation of facet joints for facet syndrome in the lumbar spine. Material and Methods. The immediate and long-term results of the treatment of 59 patients with severe pain in the lumbar spine who underwent facet joints denervation were studied. Results. On a MacNab scale, 39 (66.1 %) patients rated the treatment results as good, and 20 (33.9 %) as mediocre. According to the Nurick scale, the 2nd level results of treatment (improvement) were recorded in 55 (93.2 %) cases, the 3rd level ones (unaltered) – in 4 (6.8 %). The follow-up data were collected on 37 (62.7 %) patients from 1.7 months up to 1.5 years after surgery: 13 (35.2 %) of them rated the long-term treatment results as good, 8 (21.6 %) – as mediocre, and 16 (43.2 %) – as bad. Conclusions. Denervation of facet joints is an effective minimally invasive method for treating facet syndrome caused by spondyloarthrosis. It allows significantly reducing pain and improving the quality of life of patients in the early and long-term postoperative period.

Keywords

• joint denervation
• facet syndrome
• spondyloarthrosis
• intervertebral joint