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Cervical Facet Syndrome: Cervical Medial Branch Block and Radiofrequency Ablation

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Interventional Management of Head and Face Pain

Abstract

Neck pain is defined as pain in the area between the base of the skull and the first thoracic vertebra. Pain into adjacent regions is defined as radiating neck pain. Pain may radiate into the head (cervicogenic headache), shoulder, or upper arm (radicular or non-radicular pain). Neck pain is common in the general population. The 1-year prevalence varies between 30 and 50 %. It is more common in women with peak prevalence in middle age. Risk factors include genetic predisposition and smoking.

The following innervated structures in the neck can be a source of pain: vertebrae, discs, uncovertebral (Luschka) joints, ligaments, muscles, and facet (zygapophyseal) joints. Knowledge of the innervation of various structures in the neck is important for the interpretation of diagnostic blocks and deciding on target-specific interventional treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Pain Medicine, Western Reserve Hospital, 1900 Twenty-Third Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44223, USA

    Samer N. Narouze MD, PhD

  2. Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium

    Jan Van Zundert MD, PhD

  3. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jan Van Zundert MD, PhD

  4. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, 5800, 6202 AZ, The Netherlands

    Maarten Van Kleef MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Samer N. Narouze MD, PhD
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  2. Jan Van Zundert MD, PhD
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  3. Maarten Van Kleef MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maarten Van Kleef MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Pain Medicine, Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA

    Samer N. Narouze

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Narouze, S.N., Van Zundert, J., Van Kleef, M. (2014). Cervical Facet Syndrome: Cervical Medial Branch Block and Radiofrequency Ablation. In: N. Narouze, S. (eds) Interventional Management of Head and Face Pain. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8951-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8951-1_13

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