Ultrasound-guided facet joint injection is a proven treatment for persistent back pain. Degeneration of the vertebral joints—also known as facet joints—is often a cause of severe, localized pain. In general, facet joint injections are primarily used on the cervical and lumbar spine; however, they are rarely used on the thoracic spine as well.
Facet joint injection is a procedure performed under ultrasound guidance. This means there is no radiation exposure, unlike with CT-guided injections. Anti-inflammatory medications, hyaluronic acid, or PRP (autologous blood plasma) can be injected directly into the facet joint.
First of all, the affected joint(s) is/are identified using an ultrasound device. After a brief injection of a local anesthetic, a small dose of anti-inflammatory medication is injected into the affected area. Because the drug is injected in such a small dose and with such precision into the affected area, there are virtually no health concerns. If the facet joints are worn, the medication hyaluron or blood plasma is injected to minimize wear and tear.
The facet joint infiltration usually takes no longer than 5 - 10 minutes, whereby the patient should remain on a couch for approx. 20 minutes.
Facet joint infiltration is a largely painless process that should be carried out once a week over a period of 3 - 4 weeks, depending on the patient's condition. in simple terms, the body's own pain-inhibiting systems are activated by needle pricks in defined areas of skin. The origin of the procedure dates back to around 200 years before Christ.
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