Lumbar Facet Joint Interventions

Lumbar facet joints were recognized as potential sources of back pain by Goldthwait as early as 1911. The prevalence of persistent low back pain secondary to the involvement of lumbosacral facet joints has been established as varying from 16% to 41% depending on the type of population and setting studied. Lumbar facet joint pain has been managed utilizing intra-articular injections, facet joint nerve blocks, or radiofrequency neurotomy. Facet joint radiofrequency denervation for the treatment of lumbar facet joint pain was first described by Shealy, and intra-articular injections and facet joint nerve blocks evolved from diagnostic to prognostic to therapeutic modalities.