. 2021 Nov 11;47(1):3–59. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2021-103031

Table 20.

Complications of cervical facet joint procedures

Author, year	Patient population	Design	Results	Comments
Barnsley et al 1993⁷⁶	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 1995³¹²	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 1996⁶⁸	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 2003³⁰⁷	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 2014²⁹³	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.;