Papers of the Week

Fluoroscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation of the lumbar medial branches is commonly performed to manage chronic low back pain originating from the facet joints. A detailed understanding of the course of medial branches in relation to bony and soft tissue landmarks is paramount to optimizing lumbar denervation procedures, particularly parallel placement of the radiofrequency electrode. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship of medial branches to anatomical landmarks and discuss the implications for lumbar denervation.