This book describes the principles and applications of radiofrequency treatments for various spinal indications, including disc herniation, discogenic and radicular pain, facet joint arthropathy, and benign and malignant lesions of the vertebral column. The aim is to provide a handy guide that will acquaint readers with all aspects of radiofrequency neurotomy at different levels of the spine, enabling them to carry out treatments effectively and safely.

Radiofrequency neurotomy, or radiofrequency ablation, is a minimally invasive procedure that is associated with a reduction in complications, side effects, and risks of anesthesia as well as with lower costs. This book, written by world-renowned authorities in the field, fills a significant gap in the literature by specifically focusing on the use of radiofrequency for spinal conditions. It will be of value to a range of specialists, including interventional neuroradiologists and radiologists, neurosurgeons, and orthopedists.

Stefano Marcia, MD, is Chief of the Radiology Unit at SS. Trinità Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Italy. He is an interventional radiologist who has performed more than 13,000 less-invasive procedures such as percutaneous vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, disc decompression, facet joint neurotomy, implantation of interspinous spacers, percutaneous arthrodesis, steroid injections, biopsies, and tumor ablations. Dr. Marcia has been a faculty member/invited speaker at the annual meetings of the Society of Interventional Radiology (2015), American Society of Spine Radiology (2013, 2014), Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe (20132015), World Symposium Neuroradiologicum (2014), and European Society of Neuroradiology (2015). He has been lead author on a number of publications in peer-reviewed journals and has written several book chapters. He has also conducted many cadaver labs for different companies and has trained numerous doctors to perform interventional radiology procedures on the spine.

Luca Saba research fields are focused on Multi-Detector-Row Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance, Ultrasound, Neuroradiology, and Diagnostic in Vascular Sciences. His works, as lead author, achieved more than 160 high impact factor, peer-reviewed, Journals as American Journal of Neuroradiology, Atherosclerosis, European Radiology, European Journal of Radiology, Acta Radiologica, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology. Dr. Saba has won 15 scientific and extracurricular awards during his career. Dr Saba presented more than 500 papers and posters in National and International Congress (RSNA, ESGAR, ECR, ISR, AOCR, AINR, JRS, SIRM, AINR). He wrote 21 book-chapters and he is Editor of 8 books in the field of Computed Tomography, Cardiovascular, Plastic Surgery, Gynecological Imaging and Neurodegenerative imaging.

Anatomy and biomechanics of the spine.- Principles of RF in medicine.- Causes of back pain.- RFN for cervical disc herniation.- RFN for lumbar disc herniation.- RFN on cervical facet joints.- RFN on lumbar facet joints.- RFN for sacroiliac joint pain.- RFN pulse dose on spine.- RF for treatment of benign lesions.- RF for treatment of malignant lesions.