Medial Branch Block

What is a medial branch nerve?

Medical Branch NervesThe medial branch nerves are small nerves that come out from the facet joints in the spine. They are responsible for carrying pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. As time passes, the facet joints start to deteriorate and become inflamed. When this happens the medial branch nerves sends pain signals to the brain.

Explanation of a Medial Branch Block

1. Anatomy & Rationale:

  • The facet joints are the small joints located between and behind adjacent vertebrae. They provide stability and allow for movement between the spinal bones.
  • Each facet joint is innervated by the medial branch nerves, which transmit pain signals from the facet joints to the brain.
  • If it’s suspected that the facet joints are a source of pain, a medial branch block can be used to temporarily block the pain signal and help identify the problematic joint(s).

2. Procedure Process:

  • Preparation: The patient lies face down on a procedure table. The skin over the area to be treated is cleaned and sterilized. Local anesthesia is applied to numb the skin.
  • Guidance: Using fluoroscopy (live X-ray) for guidance, the physician advances a fine needle towards the medial branch nerves that correspond to the suspected painful facet joints.
  • Injection: Once the needle is in the correct location, a small amount of contrast dye is injected to ensure proper needle placement. Then, a mixture of a local anesthetic (like lidocaine or bupivacaine) and sometimes a corticosteroid is injected near the nerve.

3. Diagnostic Purpose:

  • If the patient’s pain diminishes significantly (usually by 50% or more) after the injection, it suggests that the facet joint(s) innervated by the blocked medial branch nerves are the source of the pain.
  • It’s important to note that the pain relief from a medial branch block is temporary. The duration of relief can vary from hours to days.

4. Subsequent Procedures:

  • If a medial branch block is successful in identifying the source of pain, a more permanent procedure called radiofrequency ablation (or medial branch rhizotomy) may be considered. This procedure uses heat to disrupt the medial branch nerve’s ability to transmit pain signals from the facet joint.

5. Risks & Complications: While medial branch blocks are generally safe, like any medical procedure, they carry some risks. These might include bleeding, infection, increased pain, or allergic reactions to the medications used. However, when performed by experienced professionals, complications are rare.

6. Conclusion: A medial branch block is a valuable diagnostic tool in the realm of pain management. It aids physicians in pinpointing the source of spinal pain and can guide further therapeutic interventions.

It’s essential for patients to discuss their symptoms, medical history, and any potential risks or concerns with their physician before undergoing the procedure.

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What Types of Non-Surgical Procedures Do Our Spine Specialists Perform?

What Surgical Procedures do our Board Certified Spine Surgeons Perform?

Removes a herniated disc in the neck to relieve neck pain

Titanium implant to keep spine stabilized after a decompression surgery (removal of a disc herniation)

Device that gets implanted to replicate the function of a normal disc which replaces a damaged disc.

Removal of the lamina to relieve compression on the spinal cord.

Inject bone cement into the vertebrae to fix a compression fracture.

Surgeon goes in through the waist to relieve nerves that are pinched by removing damaged disc material.

Stabilizes the spinal vertebrae by going in through the back of the patient by creating a fusion with two or more vertebrae.

Removal of a herniated disc or parts of the disc to relieve spinal cord pressure

Removes damaged disc material and fuses the vertebrae together

Removal of a disc herniation using a needle

Reduces a disc herniation with laser technology

Fuses Sacrum and Ilium to create one immobile joint which helps with back pain

Our Neurosurgical Spine Surgery Team

Currently on staff, we have three Neurosurgeons that specialize in spine surgery. Our Spine Surgeons see patients in all five of our office locations in Florida. To find out more on why patients should choose a neurosurgeon for spine surgery rather than an orthopedic spine surgeon click here. If you want to see their credentials click their profiles. 

Neurosurgeons close to me

Dr. Jonathan Hall, MD

Board Certified Neurosurgeon - Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Florida Surgery Consultants New Neurosurgeon Dr. Donna Saatman

Dr. Donna Saatman, MD

Board Certified Neurosurgeon - Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

What type of conditions do our Board Certified Spine Surgeons Treat?

A tear in the ligament that connects your vertebrae to your disc

Loss of disc cushioning due to the aging process

The jelly like substance in between your vertebrae pushes through the annulus and touches the spinal cord.

A tear in the ligament that connects your vertebrae to your disc

Loss of disc cushioning due to the aging process

The jelly like substance in between your vertebrae pushes through the annulus and touches the spinal cord.

The narrowing of the spinal canal, can pinch your spinal cord and the nerves around it

Inflammation of the facet joints in the spine

 Degeneration or Inflammation of the Facet Joints

A disc that has lost most of its height which can cause disc pain

often called osteophytes, they are bony growths that can form where the bones meet one another.

Normal wear and tear due to the aging process, can also be called Degenerative Disc Disease