Cervical Intra-Articular Facet Injection: Computed Tomography

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaresh Vydyanathan ◽  
Karina Gritsenko ◽  
Samer N. Narouze ◽  
Allan L. Brook
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Nerve Block ◽  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Medial Branch ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Articular Facet ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Joint Injections

Intra-articular facet joint injections commonly refer to the injection of a contrast media and local anesthetic solution, with or without corticosteroids, directly into the facet joint space. The purpose of this procedure is pain relief as well as to establish an etiological diagnosis for surgical interventions such as joint denervation or radiofrequency ablation. Medial branch block, or facet nerve block, refers to injection of local anesthetic and possible corticosteroids along the medial branch nerve supplying the facet joints. Cervical intra-articular and facet nerve block injections are often part of a work-up for general or focal neck pain, headaches, or cervical muscle spasms. There is limited evidence for short- and long-term pain relief with cervical intra-articular facet joint injections. Cervical medial branch nerve blocks with local anesthetics demonstrate moderate evidence for short- and long-term pain relief with repeat interventions, and strong evidence exists for long-term pain relief following cervical radiofrequency neurotomy.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Therapeutic Facet Joint Interventions in Chronic Spinal Pain

2007 ◽  
Vol 1;10 (1;1) ◽  
pp. 229-253
Author(s):  
Mark V. Boswell
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Spinal Pain ◽  
Medial Branch ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Radiofrequency Neurotomy ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Facet Joint Interventions ◽  
Joint Injections

Background: Facet joints are considered to be a common source of chronic spinal pain. Facet joint interventions, including intraarticular injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and neurotomy (radiofrequency and cryoneurolysis) are used to manage chronic facet-mediated spinal pain. A systematic review of therapeutic facet interventions published in January 2005, concluded that facet interventions were variably effective for short-term and long-term relief of facet joint pain. Objective: To provide an updated evaluation of the effectiveness of 3 types of facet joint interventions in managing chronic spinal pain. Study Design: A systematic review utilizing criteria established by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for evaluation of randomized and non-randomized trials and the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Review Group for randomized trials. Methods: Data sources included relevant literature of the English language identified through searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE (November 2004 to December 2006) and manual searches of bibliographies of known primary and review articles within the last 2 years. Results of the analyses were performed for the different modes of facet joint interventions for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, to determine short- and long-term outcome measurements and complications associated with these procedures. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was pain relief. For intraarticular facet joint injections and medial branch blocks, short-term pain relief was defined as relief lasting less than 6 weeks and long-term relief as 6 weeks or longer. For medial branch blocks, repeated injections at defined intervals provided long-term pain relief. For medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy, short-term pain relief was defined as relief lasting less than 3 months and long-term relief as lasting 3 months or longer. Other outcome measures included functional improvement, improvement of psychological status, and return to work. Results: For cervical intraarticular facet joint injections, the evidence is limited for short- and long-term pain relief. For lumbar intraarticular facet joint injections, the evidence is moderate for short- and long-term pain relief. For cervical, thoracic, and lumbar medial branch nerve blocks with local anesthetics (with or without steroids), the evidence is moderate for short- and longterm pain relief with repeat interventions. The evidence for pain relief with radiofrequency neurotomy of cervical and lumbar medial branch nerves is moderate for short- and long-term pain relief, and indeterminate for thoracic facet neurotomy. Conclusion: With intraarticular facet joint injections, the evidence for short- and long-term pain relief is limited for cervical pain and moderate for lumbar pain. For medial branch blocks, the evidence is moderate for short- and long-term pain relief. For medial branch neurotomy, the evidence is moderate for short- and long-term pain relief. Key words: Spinal pain, neck pain, low back pain, facet or zygapophysial joints, intraarticular facet joint injections, medial branch blocks, therapeutic medial branch blocks, radiofrequency neurotomy, cryodenervation.

scholarly journals Lumbar Facet Joint Nerve Blocks in Managing Chronic Facet Joint Pain: One-Year Follow-up of a Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial: Clinical Trial NCT00355914

2008 ◽  
Vol 2;11 (3;2) ◽  
pp. 121-132
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Chronic Low Back Pain ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Lumbar Facet Joint ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Lumbar Facet

Background: Lumbar facet joints have been implicated as the source of chronic pain in 15% to 45% of patients with chronic low back pain. Various therapeutic techniques including intraarticular injections, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency neurotomy of lumbar facet joint nerves have been described in the alleviation of chronic low back pain of facet joint origin. Objective: The study was conducted to determine the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic local anesthetic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks with or without steroid in managing chronic function-limiting low back pain of facet joint origin. Design: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Setting: An interventional pain management setting in the United States. Methods: This study included 60 patients in Group I with local anesthetic and 60 patients in Group II with local anesthetic and steroid. The inclusion criteria was based on the positive response to the diagnostic controlled comparative local anesthetic lumbar facet joint blocks. Outcome measures: Numeric pain scores, Oswestry Disability Index, opioid intake, and work status. All outcome assessments were performed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Results: Significant improvement with significant pain relief (> 50%) and functional improvement (> 40%) were observed in 82% and 85% in Group I, with significant pain relief in over 82% of the patients and improvement in functional status in 78% of the patients. Based on the results of the present study, it appears that patients may experience significant pain relief 44 to 45 weeks of 1 year, requiring approximately 3 to 4 treatments with an average relief of 15 weeks per episode of treatment. Conclusion: Therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks, with or without steroid, may provide a management option for chronic function-limiting low back pain of facet joint origin. Key words: Chronic low back pain, lumbar facet or zygapophysial joint pain, facet joint nerve or medial branch blocks, comparative controlled local anesthetic blocks, therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks

scholarly journals The Long Term Effectiveness of Genicular Nerve Blocks for Chronic Knee Pain: A Retrospective Study

2018 ◽  
pp. 75-77
Author(s):  
Laura Anne Lynem
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Radiofrequency Ablation ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Knee Pain ◽  
Nerve Block ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Chronic Knee Pain ◽  
Post Procedure

Chronic knee pain is a leading cause of chronic disability and its symptoms have a profound impact on the lives of those suffering from it. Current treatment modalities for chronic knee pain include pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Genicular nerve blocks are a new therapeutic alternative that have been shown to relieve chronic knee pain and may provide significant relief in patients who are either poor surgical candidates or are unwilling to accept the risks associated with surgery. Genicular nerve blocks may provide long term pain relief for chronic knee pain and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may not be necessary. This Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved retrospective study conducted at a single center university hospital involved 44 patients aged 43 to 87 who received genicular nerve blocks for chronic knee pain. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if genicular nerve blocks provide effective long term pain relief for patients with chronic knee pain. The numeric rating scale was used to measure the patient’s knee pain at baseline, 30, 90, and 120 days post procedure. Patients experienced a mean pain level of 7.43 out of 10 before the genicular nerve block and 4.02 afterward representing an average improvement of 42.6% in pain relief overall post procedure follow-up. A t-test revealed a statistically significant difference between the mean pain score before and after the blocks (t = 8.534, P < 0.01). Overall, the patients experienced significant pain relief of an average of 111.9 days resulting in an average of 42.6 percent pain relief post procedure follow-up. Out of the 44 patients, 15 (34.1%) underwent a RFA after receiving a genicular nerve block procedure to further manage their chronic knee pain symptoms. In conclusion, we have found statistically significant evidence that genicular nerve blocks provide effective long-term pain relief for patients with chronic knee pain. Therefore, for patients who are not surgical candidates, genicular nerve blocks represent a viable alternative treatment for knee pain. Key words: Genicular nerve blocks, chronic knee pain, genicular nerves, genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Thoracic Medial Branch Blocks in Managing Chronic Pain: A Preliminary Report of a Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial; Clinical Trial NCT00355706

2008 ◽  
Vol 4;11 (8;4) ◽  
pp. 491-504
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Functional Improvement ◽  
Medial Branch ◽  
Thoracic Pain ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Significant Pain ◽  
Group I

Background: Thoracic facet joints have been implicated as the source of chronic pain in the mid back or upper back in 34% to 48% of the patients. Various therapeutic techniques utilized in managing chronic thoracic pain of facet joint origin include intraarticular injections, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency neurotomy of thoracic facet joint nerves. Objective: To determine the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic local anesthetic medial branch blocks with or without steroid in managing chronic function-limiting mid back or upper back pain of facet joint origin. Design: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Setting: An interventional pain management private practice, a tertiary referral center, in the United States. Methods: A total of 48 patients were included, with 24 patients in each of the local anesthetic and steroid groups. All of the patients met the diagnostic criteria of thoracic facet joint pain by means of comparative, controlled diagnostic blocks and the inclusion criteria. Group I patients received thoracic medial branch blocks with bupivacaine, whereas Group II patients received thoracic medial branch blocks with bupivacaine and non-particulate betamethasone. Outcome Measures: Numeric pain scores (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), opioid intake, and return to work status. All outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Significant pain relief was defined as > 50% pain relief. Significant functional improvement was defined as 40% reduction of ODI. Results: In Group I, 79% of patients showed significant pain relief and functional improvement at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, a significant change from baseline. In Group II, 83%, 81%, and 79% of patients showed significant pain relief and functional improvement at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, a significant change from baseline. The majority of the patients experienced significant pain relief of 46 to 50 weeks, requiring approximately 3 to 4 treatments with an average relief of 16 weeks per episode of treatment. Conclusion: The majority of the patients in both groups experienced significant pain relief and improvement in functional status. Therapeutic thoracic medial branch blocks, with or without steroid, may provide a management option for chronic function-limiting mid back or upper back pain of facet joint origin. Key words: Chronic spinal pain, thoracic pain, thoracic facet or zygapophysial joint pain, facet joint nerve or medial branch blocks, comparative controlled local anesthetic blocks, therapeutic thoracic medial branch blocks

Cervical Facet Nerve Block and Radio Frequency Ablation: Fluoroscopy

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten van Eerd ◽  
Arno Lataster ◽  
Maarten van Kleef
Keyword(s):  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Spinal Column ◽  
Medial Branch ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Steroid Injections ◽  
Track Record ◽  
Segmental Nerve ◽  
Ramus Medialis ◽  
Cervical Facet

In the cervical spinal column local anesthetic can be injected intra-articularly or adjacent to the ramus medialis (medial branch) of the ramus dorsalis of the segmental nerve. Nerve blocks of the ramus medialis are preferred to an intra-articular block, because it is sometimes technically difficult to position a needle into the facet joint. These procedures are typically performed under fluoroscopy, but there are increasing numbers of studies that describe these procedures with the help of ultrasound. Reports regarding the effects of intra-articular (steroid) injections are limited. There are no comparative studies between intra-articular steroid injections and radiofrequency (RF) therapy. Based on literature about the efficacy of RF treatment and a long track record of safety of RF treatment, many pain practitioners abandon intra-articular injections in favor of RF treatment.

scholarly journals Steroid Distancing in Interventional Pain Management During COVID-19 and Beyond: Safe, Effective and Practical Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 4S;23 (8;4S) ◽  
pp. S319-S350
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Nerve Blocks ◽  
Epidural Injections ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Interventional Pain Management ◽  
Joint Injections

Background: Since the late 1940s, corticosteroids have been a mainstay class of agents in multiple interventional techniques and intra-articular injections. Exogenous glucocorticoids are structurally and pharmacologically similar to the endogenous hormones. As such, multiple actions of corticosteroids are exhibited, including those of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Epidural injections, with or without steroids, have been extensively used throughout the world. There are reports of epidural injections starting in 1901, with steroids being added to the local anesthetic since 1952, when steroids were administered into the sacral foramen. Purpose: Due to the extensive side effects of steroids in various injections, some have proposed limiting their use in epidurals and intraarticular injections. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the multiple side effects of the steroids have elevated the level of concern and recommendations have been made to utilize local anesthetic alone or the lowest dose of steroids. Fashioned from common expressions of the day, the term “steroid distancing” began to be used and proposed for intraarticular injections of the knee. Consequently, we sought to evaluate the evidence and feasibility of steroid distancing in interventional pain management. Methods: This focused review of local anesthetics and steroids utilized in interventional pain management for epidural injections, peripheral nerve blocks, and intraarticular injections by multiple database searches. This is a focused narrative review and not a systematic review. Consequently, evidence synthesis was not performed traditionally, but was based on an overview of the available evidence. Results: No significant difference was identified based on whether steroids are added to local anesthetic or not for epidural as well as facet joint injections. However, there was not enough evidence to compare these 2 groups for peripheral intraarticular injections. Limitations: The present review is limited by the paucity of literature with bupivacaine alone or bupivacaine with steroids local anesthetic alone or with steroids of intraarticular injections of knee, hip, shoulder and other joints, and intraarticular facet joint injections. Conclusion: This review shows an overall lack of significant difference between lidocaine alone and lidocaine with steroids in epidural injections. However, available evidence is limited for bupivacaine alone or with steroids. Evidence is also not available comparing local anesthetic alone with steroids for facet joint or peripheral joint intraarticular injections. Thus, it is concluded that local anesthetic with lidocaine may be utilized for epidural injections, with appropriate patient selection and steroids reserved for non-responsive patients with local anesthetic and with significant radiculitis. Key words: Steroid distancing, chronic pain, steroids, epidural injections, local anesthetic alone, local anesthetic with steroid, steroid distancing, physical distancing

scholarly journals Diagnostic Accuracy of Thoracic Facet Joint Nerve Blocks: An Update of the Assessment of Evidence

2012 ◽  
Vol 4;15 (4;8) ◽  
pp. E483-E496
Author(s):  
Sairam Atluri
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Facet Joints ◽  
Thoracic Pain ◽  
Nerve Blocks

Background: Chronic mid back and upper back pain caused by thoracic facet joints has been reported in 34% to 48% of the patients based on their responses to controlled diagnostic blocks. Systematic reviews have established moderate evidence for controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks of thoracic facet joints in the diagnosis of mid back and upper back pain. Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of thoracic facet joint nerve blocks in the assessment of chronic upper back and mid back pain. Study Design: Systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of thoracic facet joint nerve blocks. Methods: A methodological quality assessment of included studies was performed using Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies (QAREL). Only diagnostic accuracy studies meeting at least 50% of the designated inclusion criteria were utilized for analysis. Studies scoring less than 50% are presented descriptively and critically analyzed. The level of evidence was classified as good, fair, and limited (or poor) based on the quality of evidence developed by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Data sources included relevant literature identified through searches of PubMed and EMBASE from 1966 to March 2012, and manual searches of the bibliographies of known primary and review articles. Outcome Measures: Controlled placebo or local anesthetic blocks were utilized using at least 50% pain relief as the reference standard. Results: Three studies were identified utilizing controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks, with ≥50% pain relief as the criterion standard. The evidence is good for the diagnosis of thoracic pain of facet joint origin with controlled diagnostic blocks. Limitations: The limitations of this systematic review include a paucity of literature for the diagnosis of thoracic facet joint pain, with all included manuscripts originating from one group of authors. Conclusions: Based on this systematic review, the evidence for the diagnostic accuracy of thoracic facet joint injections is good. Key words: Chronic thoracic pain, mid back or upper back pain, thoracic facet or zygapophysial joint pain, facet joint nerve blocks, medial branch blocks, controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks

scholarly journals Comparative Effectiveness of a One-Year Follow-Up of Thoracic Medial Branch Blocks in Management of Chronic Thoracic Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind Active Controlled Trial

2010 ◽  
Vol 6;13 (6;12) ◽  
pp. 535-548
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Facet Joint ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medial Branch ◽  
Thoracic Pain ◽  
Significant Pain ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii

Background: Thoracic facet joints have been implicated as the source of chronic pain in the mid back or upper back in 34% to 42% of patients when the modified criteria of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is utilized. Various therapeutic techniques utilized in managing chronic thoracic pain of facet joint origin include intraarticular injections, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency neurotomy of thoracic medial branch nerves. Study Design: A randomized, double-blind, active controlled trial. Setting: A private practice, interventional pain management setting, and a specialty referral center setting in the United States. Objective: To determine the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic local anesthetic medial branch blocks with or without steroid in managing chronic function-limiting mid back or upper back pain of facet joint origin. Methods: The study was performed in an interventional pain management private practice, a tertiary referral center, in the United States. A total of 100 participants were included, with 50 participants in each of the local anesthetic and steroid groups. All of the participants met the diagnostic criteria of thoracic facet joint pain by means of comparative, controlled diagnostic blocks and the inclusion criteria. Group I participants received thoracic medial branch blocks with bupivacaine, whereas Group II participants received thoracic medial branch blocks with bupivacaine and non-particulate betamethasone. Outcomes Assessment: Outcomes measures included numeric rating scores (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), opioid intake, and return to work status at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Significant pain relief was defined as ≥ 50% pain relief and/or a positive change in ODI scores. Results: In Group I and Group II 90% of participants showed significant pain relief and functional improvement at 12 months. The majority of the participants experienced significant pain relief of 47.2 ± 10.1 weeks in Group I and 46.3 ± 8.4 weeks in Group II, requiring approximately 3.5 treatments per year with an average relief of 15.8 ± 10.5 in Group I and 13.6 ± 3.6 weeks in Group II per episode of treatment. Limitations: Study limitations include the lack of a placebo group. Conclusions: Therapeutic thoracic medial branch blocks, with or without steroid, may provide a management option for chronic function-limiting mid back or upper back pain of facet joint origin. Clinical Trial: NCT00355706 Key words: Chronic spinal pain, thoracic pain, thoracic facet or zygapophysial joint pain, facet joint nerve or medial branch blocks, comparative controlled local anesthetic blocks, therapeutic thoracic medial branch blocks.

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