Summary of agreement of committee members and partner societies
| Question | Committee members | Societies*† |
| Guidelines en bloc | 22 approved | 14 approved or supported, 1 disapproved |
| History and physical examination to identify painful atlanto–occipital and atlanto–axial joints | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| History and physical examination to identify painful cervical facet joints | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Correlation of radiological studies with painful cervical facet joints | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Requirement for conservative therapy before cervical facet blocks | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Necessity of image guidance for cervical facet interventions | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Technique, use of steroids and risk mitigation for atlanto–occipital and atlanto–axial joint injections | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Technique for cervical facet blocks | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Ideal volume for cervical facet blocks | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Therapeutic value of cervical facet blocks | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Limitations on laterality (bilateral vs unilateral) and number of levels for cervical facet interventions | 22 approved | 14 approved, 1 abstained |
| Diagnostic and prognostic value of cervical facet blocks | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Effect of sedation on the validity of cervical facet blocks | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Pain relief cut-off for designating a cervical facet block as positive | 21 approved, 1 disapproved | 14 approved, 1 disapproved |
| Number of facet blocks that should be performed before radiofrequency ablation | 21 approved, 1 disapproved | 14 approved, 1 disapproved |
| Orientation of electrodes for cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Utility of sensory and motor stimulation during radiofrequency ablation | 22 approved | 14 approved, 1 disapproved |
| Utility of and means to create larger radiofrequency lesions | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Risk mitigation for cervical facet interventions | 22 approved | 14 approved, 1 disapproved |
| Repeating radiofrequency ablation | 22 approved | 15 approved, 0 disapproved |
| Differences between clinical practice and clinical trials | 21 approved, 1 disapproved | 13 approved, 2 abstained |
*North American Spine Society did not vote on any question.
†Since this document has neither been presented to nor approved by either the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Board of Directors or House of Delegates, it does not represent an official or approved statement or policy of the Society. Although the document is supported by the ASA, variances from the recommendations contained in the document may be acceptable based on the judgment of the responsible anesthesiologist. The Canadian Pain Society acknowledges that variances from the recommendations may be acceptable based on the judgment of the treating physician and that these guidelines do not represent an official policy from the Society.