Laser-guided lumbar medial branch kryorhizotomy.
PMID 20809727 · Journal of neurosurgery. Spine · 2010 · DOI 10.3171/2010.3.SPINE09609
Authors: Robert H Andres; Thilo Graupner; Christian B Bärlocher; Arthur Augsburger; Javier Fandino
Abstract
The authors describe a modification of the medial branch kryorhizotomy technique for the treatment of lumbar facet joint syndrome using a fluoroscopy-based laser-guided method. A total of 32 patients suffering from lumbar facet joint syndrome confirmed by positive medial nerve block underwent conventional or laser-guided kryorhizotomy. The procedural time (20.6 +/- 1.0 vs 16.3 +/- 0.9 minutes, p < 0.01), fluoroscopy time (54.1 +/- 3.5 vs 28.2 +/- 2.4 seconds, p < 0.01), radiation dose (407.5 +/- 32.0 vs 224.1 +/- 20.3 cGy/cm(2), p < 0.01), and patient discomfort during the procedure (7.1 +/- 0.4 vs 5.2 +/- 0.4 on the visual analog scale, p < 0.01) were significantly reduced in the laser-guided group. There was a tendency for a better positioning accuracy when the laser guidance method was used (3.0 +/- 0.3 vs 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm of deviation from the target points, p > 0.05). No difference in the outcome was observed between the 2 groups of patients (visual analog scale score 3.5 +/- 0.2 vs 3.3 +/- 0.3, p > 0.05). This improved minimally invasive surgical technique offers advantages to conventional fluoroscopy-based kryorhizotomy.
Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Female; Fluoroscopy; Humans; Lasers; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Block; Pain; Patient Positioning; Radiation Dosage; Rhizotomy; Spinal Diseases; Syndrome; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Zygapophyseal Joint
Cite
Robert H Andres; Thilo Graupner; Christian B Bärlocher; Arthur Augsburger; Javier Fandino. Laser-guided lumbar medial branch kryorhizotomy. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine (2010). PMID 20809727. DOI 10.3171/2010.3.SPINE09609.