Thoracic Radiofrequency Ablation

Medically reviewed by Joshua L. Hare, DO, Founder & Medical Director

Conditions Treated

Thoracic facet arthropathy, mid-back pain following a compression fracture or trauma, and thoracic spondylosis, each confirmed first by diagnostic medial branch blocks.

How It Works

The course of the thoracic medial branch varies more between individuals than it does at the neck or the low back, which is why the diagnostic blocks that precede ablation carry particular weight at this level. Once the painful level is established, a radiofrequency cannula is positioned along the thoracic medial branches[1] under fluoroscopic guidance and controlled heat interrupts them.

What to Expect

A 30-45 minute outpatient procedure, depending on how many levels are treated and whether one or both sides are done. A driver is required.

Recovery

Soreness across the mid-back for one to two weeks is normal as the treated nerves respond. Relief usually develops over two to four weeks. Most people return to normal activity within a few days.

Duration of Relief

Relief typically lasts 6 to 24 months.[1] The medial branch nerves regenerate over time, so the procedure can be repeated, typically once or twice a year.

Why the Mid-Back Is Treated Least Often

The thoracic spine is braced by the rib cage and moves far less than the neck or the low back, so its facet joints wear more slowly and produce pain less often. When they do, it is usually after something specific: a compression fracture, a fall, a motor vehicle collision, or years of sustained forward posture. Mid-back pain also has several other sources that must be excluded first, including the costovertebral joints where the ribs meet the spine, the discs, and referred pain from the abdomen or chest. Because of that, a thoracic ablation is normally reached only after imaging and diagnostic blocks have ruled the alternatives out.

References

Clinical sources for this page.

1. Radiofrequency Ablation. StatPearls [Internet], National Library of Medicine. Back to first citation ↑