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Low back pain is a very common clinical problem, the cause of which is frequently poorly understood. Improvements in equipment design and scanning techniques have resulted in a better anatomical display of the lumbar spine by computed tomographic (CT) scanning. Advances in this area have provided a considerable insight into the causes of the lumbago-sciatica syndrome.

Lumbar facet joint (LFJ) pain is a common cause of low back pain. Thirty-four consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of LFJ pain received injections of a local anaesthetic agent and a long-acting corticosteroid agent under radiological control. Nineteen patients experienced immediate lessening of their pain after the injection of local anaesthetic agent, their response supporting the clinical diagnosis. Twelve of these 19 patients experienced clinically significant relief of pain for more than six months. LFJ injection offers improved diagnosis and treatment of LFJ pain.