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Lumbar Spine

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Essentials of Radiofrequency Ablation of the Spine and Joints

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Abstract

The facet joint (or zygapophyseal joint) is a major anatomical structure of the spine owing to its importance in both the stability and flexibility of the spine. Each level of the lumbar spine exhibits a functional three-component complex consisting of an anterior intervertebral disc with paired facet joints providing bony articulations posteriorly. Working congruously with the intervertebral discs, the facet joints provide both flexibility and restraint to the spine structure. Facet joints, discs, and the sacroiliac joints can all be a source of chronic low back pain. Lumbar facet joints have been shown to be the most common source of chronic low back pain. Diagnosing facet joints as the source of pain in patients suffering from low back pain is vital to the appropriate treatment of facet-mediated pain. Proper technique for diagnostic lumbar medial branch blocks (MBB) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is critical for best patient outcomes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Delmarva Pain and Spine Center, Newark, DE, USA

    Shachi Patel

  2. Jax Spine and Pain Centers, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Michael Hanes

  3. Spine & Pain Institute of Florida, Lakeland, FL, USA

    Navdeep Jassal

  4. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Kailash Pendem

  5. Florida Spine & Pain Specialists, Tampa, Florida, USA

    Nomen Azeem

  6. The Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias, Charleston, WV, USA

    Timothy R. Deer

Authors
  1. Shachi Patel
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  2. Michael Hanes
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  3. Navdeep Jassal
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  4. Kailash Pendem
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  5. Nomen Azeem
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  6. Timothy R. Deer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shachi Patel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias, Charleston, WV, USA

    Timothy R. Deer

  2. Florida Spine & Pain Specialists, Tampa, FL, USA

    Nomen Azeem

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Patel, S., Hanes, M., Jassal, N., Pendem, K., Azeem, N., Deer, T.R. (2021). Lumbar Spine. In: Deer, T.R., Azeem, N. (eds) Essentials of Radiofrequency Ablation of the Spine and Joints. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78032-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78032-6_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-78031-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-78032-6

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