• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.218-224
• /
• 2001

Background: Response to diagnostic blocks does not consistently predict the outcome of interventional facet denervation. We investigated the relationship between pain relief by the percutaneous radiofrequency denervation of the lumbar zygapophysial joints with the result of facet joint diagnostic local anesthetic injection in patients with back pain originating from the lumbar zygapophysial joint. Methods: There were 35 patients enrolled, with ranging in age from 25 to 76 years ($52.6{\pm}12.7$ years, mean ${\pm}$ SD). We studied 7 men (20%) and 28 women (80%). All patients underwent double diagnostic block of $L_{3/4}$, $L_{4/5}$ and $L_5-S_1$ facet joint with 0.5% bupivacaine. The 35 patients fell into the following group. (1) Group A (n = 16): those who felt clear relief (pain free with Likert scale) from the double diagnostic block (2) Group B (n = 19): 11 patients who were always equivocal in their response to the double diagnostic block and 8 patients who were either pain free or equivocal in their response to the double diagnostic block. All 11 patients were done the facet joint denervation. The effect on the pain was evaluated with 4 point Likert scale 1, 6 and 12 weeks after the procedure. We evaluated the relationship between the pain response to diagnostic block and the pain relief with facet joint denervation. Results: Significant correlation was observed between the response to diagnostic block and pain relief with facet denervation (P < 0.05). We found no correlation between the categories of spinal operation and pain response to facet denervation (P value > 0.05). Conclusions: A satisfactory result of lumbar facet joint denervation can be obtained in many patients, especillay in patients whose pain were relieved by the diagnostic double facet joint block. It may be said that facet joint denervation for mechanical low back pain using radiofrequency thermocoagulation is a safe, easy, and repeatable technique.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 2005

Background: A significant number of patients complain of persistent pain or neurologic symptoms after lower back surgery. It is reported that facet joint pain plays a role in failed back surgery syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, there are few studies that have investigated the outcome of radiofrequency neurotomy in the patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Methods: The study group was composed of thirteen patients who were operated on due to their low back pain, and they displayed no postoperative improvement. All the patients underwent double diagnostic block of the lumbar medial branch of the dorsal rami with using 0.5% bupivacaine. The patients who revealed a positive response to the double diagnostic block were then treated with percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy. The effect on their pain was evaluated with using a 4 point Likert scale. Results: Eleven patients revealed a positive response to the double diagnostic block. Ten patients were given percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy. Nine patients showed sustained pain relief for 3 months after the percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy. Conclusions: We found lumbar facet joint syndrome in the patients with failed back surgery syndrome by performing double diagnostic block and achieving pain relief during the short term follow-up after percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy of the lumbar zygapophysial joints. This suggested that facet joint pain should be included in failed back surgery syndrome.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.131-133
• /
• 1997

Number of elderly patients requiring nerve blocks have been increasing in recent years. We had two elderly patients who suffered stroke one day and three days after lumbar facet joint block and lumbar single epidural block respectively. Both patients due to their advanced age had potential risk factor to suffer one or more of the following; stroke, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Due to our experience with these patients, we suggested the following: (1) Nerve blocks should be reconsidered for elderly patient who posesses a potential risk factor to suffer a stroke. (2) Prior to invasive block administration of mild sedatives or analgesics may provide beneficial effects for patients with hypertension. (3) Adequately informed consent must be fully discussed time of consultation with patient scheduled for nerve block especially for elderly and risky patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.174-180
• /
• 1989

An intra-articular lumbar facet joint block with a local anesthetic and asteroid is a reliable method of diagnosis and therapy for low back pain and/or sciatica caused by lumbar facet arthropathy under fluoroscopy. We injected 40 mg of methylperdnisolone acetate and 1 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine into each lumbar facet joint to 14 patients. The results are as follows: 1) Excellent pain relief in 2 patients (14.29%) 2) Good pain relief in 6 patients (42.85%) 3) Fair pain relief in 4 patients (28.57%) 4) Non effective pain relief in 2 patients (14.29%).

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.3-12
• /
• 2024

One of the most common sources of spinal pain syndromes is the facet joints. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joint pain syndromes comprise 55%, 42%, and 31% of chronic spinal pain syndromes, respectively. Common facet joint disorders are degenerative disorders, such as osteoarthritis, hypertrophied superior articular process, and facet joint cysts; septic arthritis; systemic and metabolic disorders, such as ankylosing spondylitis or gout; and traumatic dislocations. The facet pain syndrome from osteoarthritis is suspected from a patient's history (referred pain pattern) and physical examination (tenderness). Other facet joint disorders may cause radicular pain if mass effect from a facet joint cyst, hypertrophied superior articular process, or tumors compress the dorsal root ganglion. However, a high degree of morphological change does not always provoke pain. The superiority of innervating nerve block or direct joint injection for diagnosis and treatment is still a controversy. Treatment includes facet joint injection in facet joint osteoarthritis or whiplash injury provoking referred pain or decompression in mass effect in cases of hypertrophied superior articular process or facet joint cyst eliciting radicular pain. In addition, septic arthritis is treated using a proper antibiotic, based on infected tissue or blood culture. This review describes the diagnosis and treatment of common facet joint disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.27-38
• /
• 2018

Background: Related to escalating health care costs and the questionable effectiveness of multiple interventions including lumbar facet joint interventions, cost effectiveness or cost utility analysis has become the cornerstone of evidence-based medicine influencing coverage decisions. Methods: Cost utility of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in managing chronic low back pain was performed utilizing data from a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with a 2-year follow-up, with direct payment data from 2016. Based on the data from surgical interventions, utilizing the lowest proportion of direct procedural costs of 60%, total cost utility per quality adjusted life year (QALY) was determined by multiplying the derived direct cost at 1.67. Results: Patients in this trial on average received $5.6{\pm}2.6$ procedures over a period of 2 years, with average relief over a period of 2 years of $82.8{\pm}29.6$ weeks with $19{\pm}18.77$ weeks of improvement per procedure. Procedural cost for one-year improvement in quality of life showed USD $2,654.08. Estimated total costs, including indirect costs and drugs with multiplication of direct costs at 1.67, showed a cost of USD $4,432 per QALY. Conclusions: The analysis of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in the treatment of chronic low back pain shows clinical effectiveness and cost utility at USD $2,654.08 for the direct costs of the procedures, and USD $4,432 for the estimated overall cost per one year of QALY, in chronic persistent low back pain non-responsive to conservative management.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.383-385
• /
• 1995

Postpuncture headache is the most common complication of epidural block, others include abscission of the tip of catheter, epidural abscess and subarachnoid infection, etc. A 69-year-old female patient visited the Neuro-Pain Clinic of Seran General Hospital for treatment of lower back pain and both sciatica. She received continuous epidural block, psoas compartment block, lumbar facet joint block and lumbar facet thermocoagulation. During the epidural block procedure the dura was accidently punctured and auto-logous blood patch was performed. Three days later, she manifested fever, nausea, vomiting, mild neck stiffness and mental deterioration. Meningitis was suspected as the cause of these signs. The CSF study reported: protein 400 mg/dl, sugar 14 mg/dl, WBC $468/mm^3$. She was recovered from the meningitis after adequate antibiotic therapy.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.93-98
• /
• 2021

The use of ultrasonography has recently been increasing in musculoskeletal diagnosis or intervention treatment. Ultrasound guided procedure offers a reliable alternative to fluoroscopy or computed tomography for lumbar medial branch block, facet joint block and peripheral nerves of lower extremity. Further, there is no exposure to radiation and additional equipment necessary for the protection against radiation is required. And ultrasound guided procedure needs smaller space than fluoroscopy guided procedure with real time images in the outpatient department. This article reviews ultrasound guided procedure at lumbar vertebra and peripheral nerves of lower extremity.

• Clinical Pain
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.59-64
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility of ultrasound-guided lumbar nerve root block (LNRB) and S1 nerve root block by identifying spread patterns via fluoroscopy in cadavers. Method: A total of 48 ultrasound-guided injections were performed in 4 fresh cadavers from L1 to S1 roots. The target point of LNRB was the midpoint between the lower border of the transverse process and the facet joint at each level. The target point of S1 nerve root block was the S1 foramen, which can be visualized between the median sacral crest and the posterior superior iliac spine, below the L5-S1 facet joint. The injection was performed via an in-plane approach under real-time axial view ultrasound guidance. Fluoroscopic validation was performed after the injection of 2 cc of contrast agent. Results: The needle placements were correct in all injections. Fluoroscopy confirmed an intra-foraminal contrast spreading pattern following 41 of the 48 injections (85.4%). The other 7 injections (14.6%) yielded typical neurograms, but also resulted in extra-foraminal patterns that occurred evenly in each nerve root, including S1. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided injection may be an option for the delivery of injectate into the S1 nerve root, as well as lumbar nerve root area.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2011

Background: Facet joint disease plays a major role in axial low-back pain. Few diagnostic tests and imaging methods for identifying this condition exist. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is reported that it has a high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing facet disease. We prospectively evaluated the use of bone scintigraphy with SPECT for the identification of patients with low back pain who would benefit from medial branch block. Methods: SPECT was performed on 33 patients clinically suspected of facet joint disease. After SPECT, an ultrasound guided medial branch block was performed on all patients. On 28 SPECT-positive patients, medial branch block was performed based on the SPECT findings. On 5 negative patients, medial branch block was performed based on clinical findings. For one month, we evaluated the patients using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index. SigmaStat and paired t-tests were used to analyze patient data and compare results. Results: Of the 33 patients, the ones who showed more than 50% reduction in VAS score were assigned 'responders'. SPECT positive patients showed a better response to medial branch blocks than negative patients, but no changes in the Oswestry disability index were seen. Conclusions: SPECT is a sensitive tool for the identification of facet joint disease and predicting the response to medial branch block.