4 – Scanning technique for the cervical medial branch block

Place the patient sitting.

Place the linear high-frequency probe in the axial plane and identify the transverse proces of vertebra C7 – the only transverse process with no anterior tubercle

Make a parallel shift cranially while counting the transverse processes until the desired level is reached

Identify the deepest concavity of the articular pillar as the most flat and echogenic part of the articular pillar (see next page)

Check for blood vessels with color Doppler

Insert the needle in-plane from the posterior end of the probe until the needle tip touches the deepest concavity of the articular pillar.

Inject 0.5 mL of local anaesthetic.