Medial Branch Block Injections

Medial branch block injections are used to diagnose and treat pain arising from the facet joints in the spine. There is currently no harmonised Central East ICB clinical policy, find local area policies that have been transferred to Central East ICB where these exist.

Clinical policies aim to prevent avoidable harm to patients by only offering treatments on the NHS that are evidence-based, clinically safe and effective, as well as cost effective and a good use of resources.

Information:

Currently there is not a single clinical policy for medial branch block injections that applies to people across the whole Central East area.

Where a legacy Integrated Care Board (ICB) had an agreed clinical policy on medial branch block injections, this policy transferred to Central East ICB on 1 April 2026. Previously agreed policies will continue to apply only to people living in that former ICB’s area until any new policy is adopted by NHS Central East ICB.

Where an area doesn’t have a previously agreed policy on medial branch block injections, support for patients in that area will be based on a routine commissioning pathway.

Local clinical policy positions for medial branch block injections

Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

Back pain non-specific low back pain

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Surgery and other invasive interventions for low back pain

Hertfordshire and West Essex

Injections and radiofrequency denervation for non-specific back pain