Usefulness of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Block of the Lumbar Facets in Facet Syndrome
Keywords:
Back pain; facet joint; facet blockAbstract
Introduction: More than 70% of people suffer from low back pain throughout their lives. It is one of the most common reasons for medical consultation and a frequent cause of activity limitation in working adults.
Objective: To expose the results of facet joint blockade in the definitive diagnosis and as an alternative and specific treatment for chronic lumbar facet joint syndrome.
Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study that included 103 patients with clinical symptoms consistent with facet joint pain who attended a pain clinic at the International Center for Neurological Restoration. They underwent facet joint blockade with local anesthetic, steroid, and ozone.
Results: 56.2% of those treated were over 50 years of age and 52.9% were women. Fifty percent required facet joint and disc blockade, and of these, 17.6% had a poor response to treatment. However, 51.9% had an excellent response to treatment. The improvement in pain and functionality at 3 months of treatment was significant. Vagal reactions occurred in 6.86% of patients, and hematoma at the puncture site occurred in 3.92%.
Conclusions: Facet joint and lumbar pain are most frequently present in patients with low back pain. Facet joint block with local anesthetic, corticosteroids, and ozone allows pain remission in more than 50% of patients without recurrence within a three-month period.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Katia Velázquez González, Ricardo Valdés Llerena, Marlon Páez Suárez
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