Crossed transvertebral puncture to block spinal ganglion in treatment of pain.

A simple and highly efficient percutaneous method eliminating the spinal ganglion and its posterior spinal cord root in treating metameric pain is described. Monitored by X-ray the needle crosses the vertebral canal passing e.g. from the right into the left intervertebral space. The intervention itself is made by a mesocaine alcohol block. The first experience with 12 patients is favourable in postdiscotomic syndromes or lumbar and causalgic pains in lower extremities having no mechanical cause discovered by CT.