Benefits of Cervical Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy®

Facetogenic (facet joint) pain is the second most common cause of chronic back and neck pain following discogenic (disc) pain in frequency. Facet joint pain and stiffness arise from facet joint arthritis. In patients suffering from chronic back or neck pain, the facet joint is the main (primary) cause of pain 10% of the time and a secondary cause of pain in 40% of patients. Facet joint arthritis is the result of traumatic injuries to the facet joint or capsule. Over time these injuries manifest as chronic facet joint pain and stiffness in the back or neck.

Arthritis inflammation of the facet joint is often the actual source of chronic back and neck pain. Arthritis causes highly sensitive pain nerve fibers in the damaged facet joint to send pain signals along the joint’s sensory nerves (somatic afferent) up the spinal cord to the brain where the signals are perceived as back or neck pain. Facet pain is typically made worse with activity or movement of the spine which promotes even more inflammation around the affected joints. Since facet pain is made worse with normal movement of the spine, most patients begin to self-limit their activities to avoid aggravating their back or neck pain. This is known as fear-avoidance behavior. Over time and due to inactivity, the facet joint stiffens and loses its flexibility because of disuse. It is important to maintain normal activity levels and facet joint range of motion to avoid permanent disability. Eliminating facet joint pain can help achieve this goal to have a pain-free life.

Standard treatments for facet pain include medications, therapy, injections, and surgery. Medications may provide temporary relief for mild facet joint disease but do not eliminate the source of pain. Therapy may help preserve motion and prevent deconditioning but will not eliminate the source of pain. Injections may provide temporary relief of symptoms but do not eliminate the source of pain. Injections into the joint become less effective over time as the facet joint further deteriorates in a process called arthropathy.

Rhizotomy is a newer technology introduced to treat chronic degenerative facet joint pain and loss of function. Most rhizotomies are performed with Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA), a technique using medical imaging to co-localize a probe with the areas where the sensory nerves are found near painful joints. RFA provides a small electrical current that temporarily interferes with nerve signals. Unfortunately, RFA can only provide temporary relief of pain in a small number of patients because the technique has significant limitations. Deuk Spine Institute realized the limitations of RFA’s temporary effects and went on to develop a new, improved rhizotomy technique pioneered by founder neurosurgeon, Dr. Ara Deukmedjian MD. This technique is now patented and uses FDA approved technology for your safety.

Facet joint pain will not go away entirely on its own. Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy is the only treatment in the world that offers complete and permanent pain relief from arthritic facet joints. All other treatments fall short of eliminating pain. The technique is so effective it has been patented in the United States. One treatment is typically all that is needed for complete and permanent relief of facetogenic neck pain.

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Patients with facet joint pain are excellent candidates for Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy of the facet joint. The diagnosis of facet joint pain is made with a specialized physical exam called the Deuk Spine Exam. This exam identifies if a patient is having facet joint pain and which facet joints are painful.

Sometimes a diagnostic Medial Branch Block (MBB) will be recommended first to confirm the diagnosis of facet joint pain or to identify the levels to be treated. Patients that had a good result with MBB or RFA (radiofrequency ablation) in the past or have been recommended for facet joint surgery are likely good candidates for Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy.

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Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy is performed in our state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center. There is no need for hospitalization. Patients recover in 30 minutes and are discharged home with minimal pain. The incision is only 4mm and bleeding is minimal. We use twilight anesthesia with propofol administered by an anesthesiologist.

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Spinal facet joints are normally painless joints made for movement, giving the neck its flexibility needed for regular daily activities. The ideal treatment for a painful facet joint would successfully eliminate neck pain while preserving the natural movement of the joint. Invasive spine surgeries such as laminectomy, discectomy, spinal fusion, laminoplasty, interspinous devices and the artificial discs permanently interfere with the natural movement of the spine because these treatments intentionally remove or destroy the normal bones, ligaments, muscles, and joints from the spine.

Invasive spine surgery damages not only the spinal facet joint and surrounding ligaments, bones and muscles but also permanently alters the patient’s natural posture, gait, station, and balance, leading to a lifetime of agonizing joint and muscle issues from postsurgical spinal instability. Fusion of the spine becomes necessary to treat this postoperative instability. Spinal fusion itself always results in permanent loss of movement. The best way to avoid spinal fusion is to avoid invasive spine surgery in the first place.

Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy is different because there is no collateral damage or instability from the procedure. It uses a small 4mm skin incision to access and treat painful injured facet joints. Unlike invasive spine surgery, Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy is a minimally invasive, nontraumatic plasma procedure that targets and destroys pain nerves around the spine with minimal bleeding or scarring. Since normal bone, muscle, ligament and joint are unharmed during the procedure, natural movement and stability of the spine are maintained. The entire surgery is completed minimally invasive under twilight anesthesia with same-day discharge. Complete our Free MRI Review to see if you are a candidate.

Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy for the facet joint is only available at Deuk Spine Institute. Patients are put under twilight sedation in the operating room and a 4mm incision is made in the skin around the painful facet joint. The Deuk Plasma Wand is navigated by the surgeon using medical image guidance to pre-selected locations around the painful facet joint where articular branches of the sensory nerves can be targeted and destroyed.

Recovery usually takes 30 minutes then patients are discharged home with an adult driver. Normal activity can be resumed the next day as there are no postoperative restrictions.

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There will be post-procedure pain in the area treated usually lasting a few days but up to 2 weeks in some patients. It is important to start walking immediately and stay active with daily walks. Keep your other medical conditions under control. You may return to work the day after the procedure if you are fully recovered. Some patients heal slower and require additional days of recovery.

Maintain a normal diet and avoid alcohol on the day of the procedure. Notify your surgeon if you experience increased pain, swelling, fevers, weakness, or loss of sensation. For emergencies call 911. Complete our Free MRI Review to see if you are a candidate.

As with any surgery, there are risks to this procedure including but not limited to bleeding, infection, nerve damage, cardiovascular or anesthesia complications, ischemia, loss of life. Complications like these are rare. Ask your surgeon about specific risks unique to yourself.

Complete our Free MRI Review to see if you are a candidate.

Submit your information for a Free MRI Review to find out if you are a candidate for Cervical Deuk Plasma Rhizotomy. Our team will review your MRI and contact you with a personalized recommendation.

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