Medial Branch Block.
Fact Sheets | Interventional Radiology | Back & Spinal Pain Injections
Medial Branch Block
Introduction
A Medial Branch Block is a test to help your doctor understand whether pain arising from your facet joints can be relieved by numbing the nerves (“medial branches”) that provide them with their sensation. If numbing these nerves results in significant pain relief, then the test is positive.
Preparation
We also strongly recommend that you bring a responsible person to drive you home afterwards.
RISKS
most of these are minor (1-2%), however can be serious (<0.1%) requiring hospital admission, intravenous antibiotics and surgery.
this is fortunately also rare and slightly common in patients with bleeding disorders and on “blood thinning” medication. Blood thinning medications that you are currently taking should be ceased (Aspirin and Warfarin for 5 days, Plavix for 7 days and Iscover for 8 days).
As these medications constantly evolve with advances in medicine, the times to cease these medications may vary with newer medications. Should you be on different medications, please contact us or the doctor who prescribed the medication for further advice.
from direct needle trauma, or as a consequence of the above mentioned complications.
this is when the needle penetrates into the sac encasing the nerves within the spinal canal, causing leakage of fluid contained within the sac, known as CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), that may result persistent headaches. The risk of this procedure is approximately less than 1% and is treated with flat bed rest for two hours..
Procedure
CT Guided
Medial Branch Block
You will be asked to wear a gown with the selected area of the spine exposed. Medial branch injections procedures are completed with you either lying face down or on your side, in a CT scanner. We will ensure that you are as comfortable as possible.
A series of planning images are performed, with the area of needle entry planned on the computer terminal and then marked on your skin. The radiologist will then clean your skin with an antiseptic wash and inject local anaesthetic into the injection site. This results in a stinging sensation which is temporary until the skin becomes numb, usually taking 10 seconds.
A fine needle is then passed through the skin and tissues, constantly manipulated under CT guidance until it contacts the nerves that supply the facet joints with their sensation. Local anaesthetic is then administered which numbs these nerves. You will then need to keep a pain diary after the procedure and report back to your referring doctor. If the procedure is deemed a success, you may be eligible for radiofrequency ablation, which permanently destroys the nerves targeted in medial branch block injections.
Following your procedure & recovery
At most, you will feel some minor discomfort in the back. As local anaesthetic has been injected into the spine most patients will be pain free. Patients are able to walk freely after the procedure and are observed in the clinic for 10 minutes. Following this, you may be discharged if you are feeling well. You should not drive for the rest of the day. The following day you may return to work and gradually increase your activities.
Results &
Follow-Up
One of Melbourne Radiology Clinic’s specialist radiologists, a medical doctor specialising in the interpretation of medical images for the purposes of providing a diagnosis, will then review the images and provide a formal written report. If medically urgent, or you have an appointment immediately after the scan to be seen by your doctor or health care provider, Melbourne Radiology Clinic will have your results ready without delay. Otherwise, the report will be received by your doctor or health care provider within the next 24 hours.
Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.
Your referring doctor or health care provider is the most appropriate person to explain to you the results of the scans and for this reason, we do not release the results directly to you.
Reminders
Back Pain – Patient Guide
Facet Joint Injection – Patient Fact Sheet
Selective Nerve Root Block (SNRB)/Perineural Injection – Patient Fact Sheet
Medial Branch Block – Patient Fact Sheet
Epidural Injections – Patient Guide
Discogram Injections – Patient Fact Sheet
Sacroiliac Joint Injection – Patient Fact Sheet
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) – Patient Fact Sheet