• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.54-58
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• 2010

Purpose: In patients with chronic cervical pain, the facet joint is the source of the majority. Due to the difficulty of identifying the exact location of the joint that causes these symptoms, the possibility of complications and the placebo effect brings clinical application into question. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of patients with chronic cervical pain and report the diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness of ultrasonography - guided facet joint block therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients with nonspecific chronic cervical pain for more than 6 months were selected. Patients with disc herniation, sciatica-related pain were excluded from the study and 160 patients who failed in conservative treatment (physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, medication) were included in the study. Diagnostic Ultrasonography-guided facet joint block was performed with 1% lidocaine, and after two weeks, Bupivacaine 0.25% was used in patients who tested positive for lidocaine. Patients with more than 75% pain reduction during movement after facet joint block were considered positive. Results: Among the 160 patients with chronic cervical pain, 96 patients(60%) had a positive reaction after facet block using lidocaine. Among the 64 patients with a negative reaction to lidocaine, 48 patients(75%) had a positive reaction to bupivacaine. There were 48 false positive patients(50%) who showed a positive reaction to lidocaine but a negative reaction to bupivacaine. The mean VAS of the total 160 patients before blocks was 8.5, after 2 weeks follow up it decreased to 2.7 (p = 0.001) and after 4weeks 3.6 (p = 0.001). The 8 patients as an initial improvement of symptoms are not satisfied with the procedure and the 3 patients had been worsened during observation, were showed pain relief after additional ultrasonography-guided facet joint block at 4th week. Conclusion: A single ultrasonography-guided block to chronic cervical pain patients has relatively low diagnostic value since high false positive rate. The twice facet joint blocks is thought to be a useful method for interventional pain management of patients with chronic cervical pain.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2000

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical efficacy of the arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty for the treatment of chronic impingement syndrome of the shoulder. Materials and Methods : Between July 1995 and December 1997, twenty seven consecutive shoulders of 26 patients with chronic impingement syndrome of the shoulder were treated by arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty. The patients who had severe osteoarthritis of the shoulder full thickness tear of the rotator cuff, and nonoutlet impingement were excluded. The clinical results were evaluated by using UCLA shoulder rating scale. The average follow-up was 2years 3months(range, 1year 7months to 3years 1 11months). Results : Twenty three patients$(85.2\%)$ were rated as excellent or good results, while four patients$(14.8\%)$ were fair. Twenty six cases$(96.3\%)$ were satisfied with the results of the operations, while one case$(3.7\%)$, who had Parkinsonian syndrome, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) of the cervical spine, and spinal stenosis of the 5th and 6th cervical spine was not satisfied. Conclusion : Arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty was an effective treatment method, especially for relief of pain, for the treatment of chronic impingement syndrome of the shoulder. If the patient has the combined lesions in the cervical spine and the shoulder, and systemic lesions, these lesions may influence the results of treatment after operation, and cause the unpredictable results.