Therapeutic infiltration of the facet joint in minor intervertebral disease

SUMMARY

A CT-guided infiltration technique of the facet joints was employed on a group of 20 patients suffering from sciatica without any signs ofmorphostructural alteration of the facet joints, secondary to Minor Intervertebral Disease (MID). The typical flouroscopically guided intra-articular facet arthrography has been substituted by a CT-guided technique that privileges therapy rather than diagnosis. The study involved 20 patients between 29 and 57 years of age (average 44.5), of both sexes (16 females and four males). The average time which elapsed from onset of symptomatology was 9.5 months. At seven days after the first treatment subjective results were considered excellent by 11 patients (55%), good by one (5%) and satisfactory by one (5%). Six out of20 patients (30%) failed to gain any relief of symptoms. Only one patient (5%) had a worsening of pain. Clinical evaluation by the physician at the same time showed a good result in 11 patients (55%), satisfactory in two (10%). In six patients (30%) the symptomatology was unchanged. At 4 months the subjective results were excellent in three (15%), good in six (30%) and satisfactory in two (10%) . Nine (45%) had no positive results. The clinical examination was excellent in tWo (10%), good in seven (35%), satisfactory in two (10%) and without any relief of symptomatology in nine (45%). These results encourage the use of CT-guided infiltration that, together with the small amount of contrast medium injected into the joint space, make it a safe technique for patients, avoiding or reducing complications.