EMG guidance for probe placement, nearby tissue preservation, and lesion confirmation

A system and method for locating a target nerve associated with a facet joint via nerve stimulation and monitoring of electrical muscle activity in a multifidus muscle adjacent the target nerve are described. The system includes a probe housed within a cannula and comprising a probe electrode; a recording electrode for monitoring electrical muscle activity in a medial fascicle of the multifidus muscle; a signal generator; and a controller coupled to the probe electrode and recording electrode. The controller delivers a nerve stimulation from the signal generator to the nerve via the probe electrode and monitors electrical muscle activity in the medial fascicle via the recording electrode. The probe's proximity to the nerve is determined by the electrical muscle activity in the medial fascicle elicited as a result of the nerve stimulation, where the controller provides feedback to a user to guide placement of the probe adjacent the nerve.