Medial Branch Blocks

WHAT ARE MEDIAL BRANCH BLOCKS?

Medial branch blocks are a special injection to diagnose pain in the lumbar facet joints, which are the joints that connect your vertebrae in the low back. The low back experiences a high level of mobility, and consequently, is prone to the development of arthritis, which results from wear and tear on the joints. This problem typically will cause localized back pain.

Compression fractures can cause pain over the affected level and can progress over time, causing deformity to the natural curvature of the spine. The procedure involves tapping into the compressed vertebral body, moving the bony debris out of the way with a balloon, and filling the fracture with cement. Pain relief after this procedure is usually almost instantaneous.