Patient selection Selection criteria for patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have long been influenced by protocols set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and health insurance companies….
Introduction Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a unique modality used to treat many different conditions in a variety of clinical scenarios. The principles of RFA were first described in 1891 by…
History The first known use of thermocoagulation for the treatment of chronic pain was in 1931, with successful ablation of the gasserian ganglion for trigeminal neuralgia by Martin Kirschner. A…
Introduction Bone is the third most common site of tumor metastasis after lung and liver. Of all bones, the spine is the most frequent site of metastasis ( Table 8.1…
A detailed understanding of spinal anatomy is requisite to performing spinal procedures. The spine consists of bones, ligaments, discs, blood vessels, and nerves. Bony structures and ligaments of the spine…
Introduction One of the most common health conditions worldwide is chronic low back pain (CLBP). In fact, the point prevalence of low back pain is noted to be around 12%…
Introduction Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is one of the most common manifestations of osteoporosis. OVCFs occur in approximately 20% of individuals over 70 years of age. The fractures can…
Introduction Back pain remains one of the most common complaints seen by primary care and pain treatment providers. Lifetime prevalence has been reported to be as high as 84%. Roughly…
Introduction Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an image-guided procedure for the injection of bone cement into the vertebral body. The benefits of vertebroplasty include bone strengthening and potential decompression of spinal nerves…
Introduction The prevalence of spine fractures in the United States was estimated to be 11% in people 70 to 79 years old and 18% in those over 80 years of…
