5 – Scanning technique for the lumbar medial branch block

Place the patient in the lateral decubitus position.

Place a curved array probe in the parasagittal plane and identify the superior margin of the sacrum and the transverse process of vertebra L5. Move the probe cranially while counting the transverse processes. At the target level, the probe is rotated to the axial plane and the spinous process, the articular process and the transverse process are identified.

The needle is inserted from the lateral end of the probe aiming at the groove between the superior margin of the transverse process and the superior articular proces until bony contact.

Inject 1 mL of local anaesthetic.