Sacroiliac Joint RhizotomyÂ
Damage, degeneration, or Injury to the Sacroiliac Joint can cause acute lower back and leg pain. Typically, conservative treatment is recommended to cure the pain and accompanying symptoms. However, surgery is recommended if non-surgical treatment options are ineffective. Minimally Invasive procedures like Sacroiliac Endoscopic Rhizotomy are a successful cure.
Endoscopic Rhizotomy is a minimally invasive endoscopic surgery in which spinal nerve roots are cauterized for permanent pain relief. This procedure is preferable to alternatives such as percutaneous radiofrequency ablation because it provides direct endoscopic visualization of the posterior spinal nerves. It is performed to provide pain relief caused by damaged Sacroiliac or Facet joint(s).
Who Needs Sacroiliac Joint RhizotomyÂ
Sacroiliac Joint Rhizotomy is recommended to patients who:
- Have been diagnosed with Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction or other degenerative diseases.
- Are suffering from chronic back pain and muscle spasms.
- Are experiencing pain when leaning backward.
- Have received no pain relief from conservative treatment options even after 8-12 weeks.
Spine specialists recommend surgery after careful pain evaluation and confirmation of the pain source. Medial branch blocks and Sacroiliac joint injections are used to confirm the condition.
How Is It Performed?
Sacroiliac Endoscopic Rhizotomy is performed under local anesthetic.
- A small incision is made in the surgical area; a small tube is inserted in the incision through which the surgery is performed. An HD camera is placed into the tube, which gives the spine surgeon a high-definition view of the medial branch nerve.
- A catheter is passed through the tubes to reach the branch nerves. Using microscopic instruments, the surgeon cauterizes medial branch nerves.
- Once cauterized, the nerves are unable to send a pain signal to the brain, which eliminates pain. Instruments are retracted, and the metal tube is extracted.
- Steri-strips are used to close the incision. Barring complications, a patient is discharged within 24 hours of the procedure.
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FAQ’S
What Is a Rhizotomy?
- An endoscopic Rhizotomy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the surgeon to have direct visualization of the medial branch nerves supplying the facet joint in the back of your spine.
- Problematic nerves are the cauterized for permanent pain relief.
- This procedure is also known as a facet joint denervation.
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Rhizotomy?
- It takes around two to four weeks after your surgery for your nerves to heal from Rhizotomy; during this period, your pain will continue to improve.
- You can start to feel the maximum benefits of your surgery two weeks afterward, and they last up to 12 months.
What Is the Success Rate of a Rhizotomy?
- Lumbar Rhizotomy has a success rate of 70 percent to 80 percent in eliminating or reducing back pain.
- One Rhizotomy procedure can last you for a year or more; after that, the nerves can start regenerating, and pain can recur; if so, the procedure can be repeated.
Are You Awake for a Rhizotomy?
- Yes, you are awake but comfortable during a Rhizotomy.
- A local anesthetic is injected in the procedure site to numb the area, so you don’t feel anything.
