Rhizolysis has been regarded as a controversial, but safe, procedure for the treatment of back pain. A case of a neuralgia-like pain syndrome resulting from transection of the lateral branches of the lumbar dorsal rami during rhizolysis is reported. The anatomy of the lumbar lateral branches is described, and their vulnerability is discussed. Attention is drawn to the likelihood of this complication with the use of rhizolysis in the vicinity of cutaneous branches of the dorsal rami