Table 20.
Complications of cervical facet joint procedures
| Author, year | Patient population | Design | Results | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley et al 1993 [76] |
16 pts with chronic neck pain after MVC | Prospective observational | Transient disequilibrium on rising after the procedure lasting for a few minutes was common | 4/16 pts had presyncope that resolved spontaneously |
| Lord et al 1995 [312] | RFA of cervical facet joint innervation in 19 pts (28 procedures) | Prospective observational | Ataxia was a common adverse effect of third occipital neurotomy; numbness, dysesthesia, and pruritus also reported | High failure rate (70%) of TON neurotomy. |
| Lord et al 1996 [68] | RFA of cervical facet joint innervation in 24 pts (12: active; 12: control) | Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind | 5 of 12 (42%) pts in active group had numbness in the cutaneous distribution of ablated nerves | 1 patient developed a psoriatic rash at the skin incision (Köebner’s phenomenon) 1 week after RFA |
| Govind et al 2003 [307] | RFA of TON (C2–3 facet joint innervation) in 49 pts | Prospective observational | Slight ataxia (95%), numbness (97%), and temporary dysesthesia (55%) were common | No intervention required for adverse effects |
| Gazelka et al 2014 [293] |
RFA of TON (C2–3 facet joint innervation) in 64 pts | Prospective observational | 12 (19%) pts reported neuropathic pain in the cutaneous distribution of the TON | Effects of administering steroids at the end of RFA unclear |
MVC, motor vehicle collision; pts, patients; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; TON, third occipital nerve.