Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical note

Tilman Wolter,1 Barbara Kleinmann,1 Stefan Knoeller2,3 1Interdisciplinary Pain Center, 2Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; 3Department of Spine Surgery, Helios Klinik Breisach...

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Main Authors: Wolter T, Kleinmann B, Knoeller S
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-06-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/cryoneurolysis-for-the--treatment-of-cervical-facet-joint-syndrome-a-t-peer-reviewed-article-JPR
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author Wolter T
Kleinmann B
Knoeller S
author_facet Wolter T
Kleinmann B
Knoeller S
author_sort Wolter T
collection DOAJ
description Tilman Wolter,1 Barbara Kleinmann,1 Stefan Knoeller2,3 1Interdisciplinary Pain Center, 2Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; 3Department of Spine Surgery, Helios Klinik Breisach, Breisach, Germany Objective: Neck pain has an annual prevalence of 30%. A frequent cause of neck pain is cervical facet joint pain. In cases of refractory cervical facet joint pain, radiofrequency can be employed, but the grade of evidence attested in systematic reviews is fair. Cryoneurolysis has been reported to induce favorable outcomes in lumbar facet joint pain. We sought to examine the feasibility of cervical facet joint cryoneurolysis. Setting: Tertiary academic pain center. Patients and methods: We report here the operative technique of cervical facet joint cryoneurolysis for patients with cervical facet joint pain. The procedure is performed under CT-guidance. The lesion points are defined with the help of sensory stimulation. Results: Six cervical facet joint denervations were carried out in five patients. All patients had an uneventful course with adequate pain relief. Apart from soreness of the paravertebral muscles no severe side effects were encountered. Conclusion: This is the first report of cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint pain. The technique is feasible and warrants further studies. Keywords: neck pain, facet joint pain, cervical spine, cryoneurolysis
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spelling doaj.art-3e23217a99b941de87a9c0a2469970c12022-12-22T02:17:38ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902018-06-01Volume 111165116938889Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical noteWolter TKleinmann BKnoeller STilman Wolter,1 Barbara Kleinmann,1 Stefan Knoeller2,3 1Interdisciplinary Pain Center, 2Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; 3Department of Spine Surgery, Helios Klinik Breisach, Breisach, Germany Objective: Neck pain has an annual prevalence of 30%. A frequent cause of neck pain is cervical facet joint pain. In cases of refractory cervical facet joint pain, radiofrequency can be employed, but the grade of evidence attested in systematic reviews is fair. Cryoneurolysis has been reported to induce favorable outcomes in lumbar facet joint pain. We sought to examine the feasibility of cervical facet joint cryoneurolysis. Setting: Tertiary academic pain center. Patients and methods: We report here the operative technique of cervical facet joint cryoneurolysis for patients with cervical facet joint pain. The procedure is performed under CT-guidance. The lesion points are defined with the help of sensory stimulation. Results: Six cervical facet joint denervations were carried out in five patients. All patients had an uneventful course with adequate pain relief. Apart from soreness of the paravertebral muscles no severe side effects were encountered. Conclusion: This is the first report of cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint pain. The technique is feasible and warrants further studies. Keywords: neck pain, facet joint pain, cervical spine, cryoneurolysishttps://www.dovepress.com/cryoneurolysis-for-the--treatment-of-cervical-facet-joint-syndrome-a-t-peer-reviewed-article-JPRNeck painfacet joint paincervical spinecryoneurolysis
spellingShingle Wolter T
Kleinmann B
Knoeller S
Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical note
Journal of Pain Research
Neck pain
facet joint pain
cervical spine
cryoneurolysis
title Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical note
title_full Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical note
title_fullStr Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical note
title_full_unstemmed Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical note
title_short Cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome: a technical note
title_sort cryoneurolysis for the treatment of cervical facet joint syndrome a technical note
topic Neck pain
facet joint pain
cervical spine
cryoneurolysis
url https://www.dovepress.com/cryoneurolysis-for-the--treatment-of-cervical-facet-joint-syndrome-a-t-peer-reviewed-article-JPR
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AT kleinmannb cryoneurolysisforthetreatmentofcervicalfacetjointsyndromeatechnicalnote
AT knoellers cryoneurolysisforthetreatmentofcervicalfacetjointsyndromeatechnicalnote