The role of laminectomy, facet rhizotomy, and epidural steroids.

A retrospective review of the treatment of chronic back and extremity pain is presented. Laminectomy is most effective for pain secondary to direct compression of the neural elements. Treatment of pseudoradicular pain requires identification of the source of pain input. Facet rhizotomy is specific for pain arising from the posterior primary rami. Pain input from the recurrent sinuvertebral nerve requires epidural injection.