Facet Injection

What is it?

The facet joint is a small joint in the back of the vertebral column. They help form the connection between each adjacent vertebral level of the spine and they are also paired, one on each side of the vertebral column. Facet joints are a common cause of spinal pain in the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions. An injection of anesthetic and corticosteroid can help diagnose and treat facet pain.

How is it done?

Under fluoroscopic guidance, the facet joint can be seen. A fine needle is then carefully directed in to the joint. A very small volume of contrast dye is injected to verify accurate location. Then the joint is injected with an anesthetic and corticosteroid mixture.

Expected results:

Decrease inflammation and pain emanating from the facet joint.

How long does it take?

The procedure takes ten to fifteen minutes plus recovery time.

Demonstrations

View our Facet Joint Injection Demo.