scholarly journals Usefulness of Nerve Blocks and Radiofrequency Treatment in Nonagenarians with Chronic Radicular and Low Back Pain : A Preliminary Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33
Author(s):  
Sang-In Yoon ◽  
Tae-Shin Kim ◽  
Jang-Bo Lee ◽  
Jung Yul Park
2008 ◽  
Vol 2;11 (3;2) ◽  
pp. 121-132
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti

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


2012 ◽  
Vol 6;15 (6;12) ◽  
pp. E869-E907
Author(s):  
Frank J.E. Falco

Background: Lumbar facet joints are a well recognized source of low back pain and referred pain in the lower extremity in patients with chronic low back pain. Conventional clinical features and other non-invasive diagnostic modalities are unreliable in diagnosing lumbar zygapophysial joint pain. Controlled diagnostic studies with at least 80% pain relief as the criterion standard have shown the prevalence of lumbar facet joint pain to be 16% to 41% of patients with chronic low back pain without disc displacement or radiculitis, with a false-positive rate of 17% to 49% with a single diagnostic block. Study Design: A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of lumbar facet joint nerve blocks. Objective: To determine and update the diagnostic accuracy of lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in the assessment of chronic low back pain. 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 analyzed critically. 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 June 2012, and manual searches of the bibliographies of known primary and review articles. Outcome Measures: Studies must have been performed utilizing controlled local anesthetic blocks. Pain relief was categorized as at least 50% pain relief from baseline pain and the ability to perform previously painful movements. Results: A total of 25 diagnostic accuracy studies were included. Of these, one study evaluated 50% to 74% relief as criterion standard with a single block with prevalence of 48%, 4 studies evaluated 75% to 100% relief as the criterion standard with a single block with a prevalence of 31% to 61%, 5 studies evaluated 50% to 74% relief as the criterion standard with controlled blocks with a prevalence of 15% to 61%, and 13 studies evaluated 75% to 100% relief as the criterion standard with controlled blocks with a prevalence of 25% to 45% in heterogenous populations. False-positive rates ranged from 17% to 66% in the 50% to 74% pain relief group and 27% to 49% with at least 75% relief as the criterion standard. Based on this evaluation, the evidence showed that there is good evidence for diagnostic facet joint nerve blocks with 75% to 100% pain relief as the criterion standard with dual blocks and fair evidence with 50% to 74% pain relief as the criterion standard with controlled diagnostic blocks; however, the evidence is poor with single diagnostic blocks of 50% to 74%, and limited for 75% or more pain relief as the criterion standard. Limitations: The shortcomings of this systematic review of the accuracy of diagnostic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks include a paucity of literature and continued debate on an appropriate gold standard. Conclusion: There is good evidence for diagnostic facet joint nerve blocks with 75% to 100% pain relief as the criterion standard with dual blocks, with fair evidence with 50% to 74% pain relief. Key words: Chronic low back pain, lumbar facet or zygapophysial joint pain, facet joint nerve blocks, medial branch blocks, controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks


1978 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
F. N. ARNHOFF ◽  
H. B. TRIPLETT ◽  
B. POKORNEY

2007 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naohisa Miyakoshi ◽  
Yoichi Shimada ◽  
Yuji Kasukawa ◽  
Hidetomo Saito ◽  
Hiroyuki Kodama ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (22.2) ◽  
pp. E111-E118
Author(s):  
Albert E. Telfeian

Background: The sacroiliac joint complex (SIJC) is considered a major sources of chronic low back pain. Interventional procedures for sacroiliac (SI) joint pain tend to be short-lived and surgical treatment usually involves a fusion procedure. Objectives: To determine the clinical efficacy of endoscopically visualized radiofrequency treatment of the SIJC in the treatment of low back pain. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: This study took place in a single-center, orthopedic specialty hospital. Methods: Patients received general anesthesia and under endoscopic visualization, radiofrequency ablation was performed on 1) the perforating branches that innervate the posterior capsule of the SI joint capsule, 2) along the course of the long posterior SI ligament, 3) the lateral edges of the S1, S2, and S3 foramen, and 4) the L4, L5, and S1 medial marginal nerve branches along the lateral facet margins. Results: From January 2015 to June 2016, a total of 30 patients who met the precise inclusion criteria were treated with the endoscopic SIJC radiofrequency treatment for low back pain. The average patient was aged 56 years (19 women and 11 men), the average preoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score was 7.23, and the average Oswestry disability index (ODI) score was 44.8. VAS and ODI were measured at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 21 and 24 months: VAS was reduced from 7.23 at baseline to 2.82 at 24 months (61% reduction), and ODI was improved from 44.8 at baseline to 22.2 at 24 months (50% reduction). Limitations: Small retrospective case series. Conclusions: Full-endoscopic radiofrequency ablation of the large sensory SI joint innervation complex, that includes the sensory nerve branches along the lateral S1-3 foramina and the L4-S1 medial branches, is perhaps a minimally invasive surgical procedure that could provide significant relief of lumbar back pain in the carefully selected patient. Key words: Endoscopic spine surgery, minimally invasive, low back pain, sacroiliac joint, radiofrequency treatment


Pain Practice ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 568-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Kanematsu ◽  
Junya Hanakita ◽  
Toshiyuki Takahashi ◽  
Yosuke Tomita ◽  
Manabu Minami

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