Facet Thermal Ablation
A procedure to relieve certain spinal conditions at Laser Spine Institute
Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days A Facet Thermal Ablation is a procedure very similar to a root canal a dentist performs. The surgeon uses a laser to clean the facet joint and deaden the nerve that innervates the joint and causes painful symptoms. The facet joints are the joint structures that connect the vertebrae to one another. Thermal ablation refers to the laser eradication of the effected nerve.
A Facet Thermal Ablation is used to treat the following conditions:
- Facet Disease
- Facet Joint Syndrome
- Facet Hypertrophy
- Facet Arthritis
- Degenerative Facet Joints
In general, all of the above terms mean pretty much the same thing - arthritis or degeneration of the facet joint.
The facet joint is like any other joint in your body - it has cartilage that lines the joint, (this allows the bone to glide smoothly over one another) and a capsule surrounding the joint.
The function of the facet joint is to provide support, stability, and mobility to the vertebrae (spine). There are two facet joints between each vertebrae. They are located on each side of the vertebrae. Facet disease can occur at any level of the spine, but are most common in the lumbar region.
At Laser Spine Institute (LSI) in Tampa, Florida, we perform Facet Thermal Ablations without the need for general anesthesia in an outpatient surgical setting.
After a local anesthetic is administered, a small incision is made and a round Depuy tube is put into the incision. This tube allows us to perform Facet Thermal Ablations with minimal damage to the surrounding muscles. The muscles are pushed out of the way and are not torn or cut.
This procedure is performed through a small tube - 5mm (about the size of a straw.) The laser, fiber optics and irrigation are all placed in the tube and surgery is performed on the facet joint. The surgeon will use the laser to debride (clean the joint) and deaden the nerve that innervates the joint. This procedure takes about 40 minutes and will resolve the pain associated with the facet joint. After 1-2 hours of monitoring, the patient (with a companion) is free to go.
We generally encourage patients to take a long walk the afternoon or evening of their Facet Thermal Ablation procedure. The patient then returns the following day for a post-operative visit to get clearance from the doctor to return home.
Advantages for having LSI's Facet Thermal Ablation:
- Outpatient procedure - no hospitalization
- No general anesthesia
- No arthrodesis (fusion)
- Minimally invasive
- Very successful
- Short recuperation - quickly return to normal activities
- Minimal scar tissue formation
The Laser Spine Institute offers various minimally invasive procedures to relieve neck and back pain caused by spinal conditions and nerve conditions. Procedures offered include Foraminotomy, Percutaneous, Discectomy, Facet Thermal Ablation, and Fusion Alternatives. After-surgery options include physical therapy sessions to help minimize the recuperation period.
Advantages of having your spinal surgeries done at the Laser Spine Institute include no general anesthesia, no hospitalization, minimally invasive surgery, minimal scar tissue formation, and the availability of outpatient procedures.