The Effect of Intraoperative Facet Joint Denervation in The Prophylaxis of Back Pain after Spinal Fixation: A Randomized Prospective Controlled Single-Blind Study

Abstract

Background: Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) remains a significant challenge after fixation procedures of the spine. The present research assessed the efficacy of intraoperative facet joint denervation in preventing postoperative back pain in individuals undergoing spinal fixation. Methods: A randomized retrospective controlled single-blind study was carried out on 70 patients requiring spinal fixation assigned to two equal groups: Group A: intraoperative facet joint denervation was performed, while Group B was a control group. Pain levels were evaluated utilizing the visual analog scale (VAS) for 7 days following surgery. Follow-up visits occurred at 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months. The primary outcome was FBSS incidence. Secondary outcomes included operative time, VAS scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and complications. Results: The VAS scores of Group A were noticeably reduced after 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation (p