What Is a Rhizotomy?
A rhizotomy is a procedure that is used to prevent sensory nerves from sending pain messages to the brain by heating the nerve with a radiowave.
How Does a Rhizotomy Work?
When the spine is injured, diseased, degenerated or surgically treated, the facet joints may be affected. These joints frequently become arthritic and painful. The resulting symptoms in the low back are typically back pain which radiates into the legs to just above the knee. Pain and stiffness of the lower back is also noted and leaning forward slightly may make the pain better. Pain and stiffness is common in the upper spine as well. This treatment is used to relieve the pain in the facet and/or sacroiliac joint.
How Is a Rhizotomy Performed?
A rhizotomy is performed in the procedure room using fluoroscopy (x-ray). Sedation may or may not be used for this procedure. The patient is positioned on the fluoroscopy table and the joints to be treated are identified. The skin is then frozen and a numbing medication (local anesthetic) is injected around the joints to be treated. A small wire is then inserted into a needle adjacent to the joint nerve. With the wire in proper position a radiofrequency wave is applied which heats the tissue and destroys the joint nerve.
What Are the Potential Risks with a Rhizotomy?
As with any invasive procedure there is the risk of infection and bleeding at the injection site. Very rarely nerve damage may occur.
What Are the Expected Benefits of This Treatment?
Pain relief is usually delayed after a rhizotomy. It may take up to 4 weeks to fully evaluate the benefit of the procedure. In some cases the pain may be worse for the first 1-2 weeks following the procedure. Generally ice applied to this area is helpful.
