Is Facet Injection Better Than Medial Branch Block?

Facet injection appeared to be superior to medial branch block of SPECT scan positive facet joints

South Med J. 2008 Sep;101(9):931-4.
Pain relief with intraarticular or medial branch nerve blocks in patients with
positive lumbar facet joint SPECT imaging: a 12-week outcome study.
Ackerman WE 3rd, Ahmad M

1) Lumbar facets – prospective double blind

2) Non-radicular black pain with a SPECT-positive imaging joint.

Significance was 0.05. Needs replication before it can be taken seriously

This is a relief to me. Injecting medial branches can only be done by a radiologist (or with imaging). Facet injections can be done more or less blind.

Any comments on this?

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