CT-guided block is a medical procedure where a local anesthetic (sometimes combined with a steroid or other medication) is injected near nerves or around joints under the guidance of a CT scan. This technique ensures precise needle placement and enhances the accuracy and safety of the injection.
🔹 What Is It Used For?
CT-guided blocks are primarily used for:
-
Pain relief (diagnostic or therapeutic)
-
Identifying pain origin (diagnostic nerve blocks)
-
Treatment of nerve compression or inflammation
-
Pre-surgical planning (nerve mapping)
🔹 Common Types of CT-Guided Blocks:
| Type of Block | Target Area | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Nerve root block | Spine (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) | Radiculopathy (sciatica, pinched nerves) |
| Facet joint block | Spine (facet joints) | Chronic back or neck pain |
| Sacroiliac joint block | Pelvis | Sacroiliitis or lower back pain |
| Sympathetic block | Lumbar or cervical region | CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), vascular pain |
| Peripheral nerve block | Arm/leg nerves | Nerve entrapment syndromes or trauma-related pain |
-
Patient Positioning (as per target site)
-
Planning CT Scan – to identify exact target site
-
Sterile Prep of the area
-
Needle Insertion – done under live CT or sequential scan guidance
-
Drug Injection – anesthetic ± steroid
-
Post-scan – to confirm drug spread and needle position
 |
| ct scan guided biopsy |
🔹 Advantages of CT Guidance:
✅ Highly accurate needle placement
✅ Better visualization of deep or complex anatomy
✅ Minimally invasive
✅ Lower risk of complications compared to blind injections
No comments:
Post a Comment