Cryorhizotomy is a procedure in which nerves are ablated using cold in a minimally invasive manner. The procedure is used in pain therapy, for instance, in the treatment of facet joint pain or the sacroiliac joint syndrome [^1] [^2].

Procedure

In cryorhizotomy, a cold probe is typically brought to the affected joint under local anesthesia, which freezes the joint capsule for a few minutes at temperatures as low as -78°C.

Illustration

Cryorhizotomy X-ray — Fluoroscopic image of an inserted cold probe for cryorhizotomy at the facet joint gap (orange circle) LWK5/SWK1.