Cryodenervation

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a cryodenervation of the facet joints in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Cryodenervation of the Facet Joint: Definition

Cryodenervation of the facet joint is a minimally invasive method used to treat the pain at the facet joint caused by degenerative changes to spinal column. Since the start of 2000 patients have had the option to relieve pain of the facet joins with a minimally invasive technique known as percutaneous cryodenervation of the facets of the lumbar spine.

Using cryodernervation the patient need only stay at the hospital for 24 hours for the surgery. The patient becomes almost immediatley amblulatory after the anathesia effects are gone. Anathesia is local. Preop tests include what is necessary for the anathesiologist.

Cryodenervation of the Facet Joint: Procedure

Under local anathesia a slim luminated, double-walled cryodenervation probe, which is cooled to -70 degrees Celcius by carbon dioxide, is brought to the exact place of concern. Here the pain-causing nerves are frozen. Usually this procedue will make a significant improvement to the quality of everyday life for the patient.

Cryodenervation of the Facet Joint: Postop

After 2 days the patient can take up the necessary back strengthening exercises in rehab. With this relief from the cryodenervation the patient can further strengthen their back muscles and slow or eliminate the painful wear process.

Cryodenervation of the Facet Joint: Research Results

A recent study was undertaken by the University of Munich to examine the effects of medial branch cryodenervation in the treatment of lumbar facet joint pain. This was a prospective clinical case series. Patient selection was based on the history, physical examination and positive medial branch blocks. Percutaneous medial branch cryodenervation was performed using a Lloyd Neurostat 2000. Target parameters were low back pain (VAS), limitation of activity (McNab) and overall satisfaction. Fifty patients were recruited, and 46 completed the study. The follow-up time was 1 year. At 6 weeks, 33 patients (72%) were pain free or had major improvement of low back pain; 13 (28%) had no or little improvement. Including failures, mean low back pain decreased significantly from 7.7 preoperatively to 3.2 at 6 weeks, 3.3 at 3 months, 3.0 at 6 months and 4.2 at 12 months (P<0.0001). Limitation of the activities of daily living improved parallel to reduced pain. Results that medial branch cryodenervation is a safe and effective treatment for lumbar facet joint pain.