The facet joints or zygapophyseal joints are a set of joints between the articular processes of two adjacent vertebrae. The cervical facet joints provide support, stability and mobility to the cervical vertebrae, especially on extending, bending and rotation of the neck area. Similar to other joints in the body, these joints are vulnerable to inflammation and degeneration. The cervical medial branch nerves are very small nerves that supply the facet joints in the cervical spine. They transmit pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. These nerves hurt when facet joints are injured or diseased.
A cervical medial branch nerve block is a diagnostic procedure using X-ray guidance in which a local anaesthetic is injected very close to the small medial branch nerves connected to a specific facet joint. Cervical medial branch nerve blocks are used to test if a patient’s pain originates from a given cervical facet joint. Typically, several levels of the cervical spine are injected in one procedure.
References
- Theodoridis T., Kraemer J.: Injektionstherapie an der Wirbelsäule. Manual und Atlas. 3. Auflage. Thieme 2017.
- Bogduk N.: Practice Guidelines for Spinal Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures. 2. Edition. International Spine Intervention Society 2013.
