Anwendung unterschiedlicher Injektionstherapien bei Zervikal- und Lumbalsyndromen

[Application of image-guided injection for cervical and lumbar syndromes]

The X‑ray image-guided injection methods are an important tool for the treatment of cervical and lumbar pain syndromes. For the application of these methods it is necessary to have a differentiated consideration of cervical and lumbar pain syndromes. This leads to a decoding of complaints to assignable pain generators, which enables a targeted injection method. Depending on the origin of pain, injections are placed at the nerve root or the joints. Thus, the vicious cycle of pain can be stopped. A correct technical procedure is of enormous importance. Particular attention must be paid to the pharmacological effects and special complications. A monitoring and precautionary measures are mandatory.

[Lumbar facet joint disease : Classification, clinical diagnostics, and minimally invasive treatment]

BACKGROUND

The degeneration of the lumbar facet joint is a multi-factorial process that is closely linked to degeneration of the intervertebral discs and has been implicated as one of the causes of low-back pain of elderly patients in about 15 up to 40% of cases. Moreover, emerging data suggest that increased inflammatory features play an important role in the progression of lumbar facet joint disease and may serve as a link to the afferent pain nerve fibers.

OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES

Since the first description in 1975 of minimally invasive treatment of lumbar facet joint disease, different techniques have been developed and used with varying results. Today, the major techniques are thermorhizotomy, cryorhizotomy, and endoscopic or percutaneous facet debridement with different anatomical targets, such as the medial branch of the dorsal ramus or facet joint capsule.