Spinal arthritis is a slowly developing condition that results from the breakdown of cartilage within the facet joints. The facet joints are located on both sides of the spine and connect the vertebrae, allowing them to move.
When the cartilage of the spine's facet joints wears away, it often leads to pain and stiffness. The neck and lower back are the most common areas to develop spinal arthritis.
Treatment for spinal arthritis focuses on managing symptoms and reducing pain. This includes lifestyle changes, physical therapy, medications, and injections. When spinal arthritis causes significant pain, nerve compression, or instability, different surgical options are available to help.
A medial branch nerve transection is a procedure that cuts and removes the medial branch nerve. This nerve is located at each facet joint of the spine and sends sensory information, including pain signals, to the brain. Cutting this nerve can help relieve pain without affecting the movement or function of the spine.
A medial branch nerve transection can be performed endoscopically with an instrument called an endoscope that contains a light, a camera, and a channel for tools to pass through. Endoscopic procedures involve very small incisions and allow the surgeon to cut and remove the nerve through the endoscope to help relieve pain from spinal arthritis.
Want to dive deeper? Take a look at some of the bonus educational videos to sharpen your understanding of spinal arthritis.
