Facetogenic pain and percutaneous facet screws

[interjectionreflection]

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Hi all,
I recently started to notice a lot of mention of percutaneous facet screws specifically by Douglas Beall. I tried to do a quick literature review but could not find much on it. I never seen these devices used in person and the surgeons I work with don't use these. I'm curious if this is a widespread thing that I am behind the curve on, the indications appear to be for facetogenic pain and percutaneous facet fixation is this supposed to be an alternative or Superior to MBB RFA? if so does anyone have any literature on that. Is this commonly being done by pain physicians?

Thanks!

 

[RoloTomassi]

I saw that too. Never seen anyone else use them. One he did was for a SP fracture which makes no sense. He does strange things sometimes, like cementing ISSs.

 

[BobBarker]

I didn’t understand either. It seemed like he was saying he placed the minuteman for the sp fx and then went in to place the facet screws later on. So he has billed posterior spinal fusion cpt 22612 on the same level twice…

 

[SSdoc33]

ill see facet screws very rarely. sometimes a surgeon will put them in for facet diastasis or micro-instability. the problem is that you dont address the anterior column which i also a problem. i will also see it for unilateral facet arthropathy, but RF is a better treatment., in general, they arent a good idea