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Van den Heuvel SAS, Cohen SPC, de Andrès Ares J, Van Boxem K, Kallewaard JW, Van Zundert J. 3. Pain originating from the lumbar facet joints. Pain Pract 2024; 24:160-176. [PMID: 37640913 DOI: 10.1111/papr.13287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pain originating from the lumbar facets can be defined as pain that arises from the innervated structures comprising the joint: the subchondral bone, synovium, synovial folds, and joint capsule. Reported prevalence rates range from 4.8% to over 50% among patients with mechanical low back pain, with diagnosis heavily dependent on the criteria employed. In well-designed studies, the prevalence is generally between 10% and 20%, increasing with age. METHODS The literature on the diagnosis and treatment of lumbar facet joint pain was retrieved and summarized. RESULTS There are no pathognomic signs or symptoms of pain originating from the lumbar facet joints. The most common reported symptom is uni- or bilateral (in more advanced cases) axial low back pain, which often radiates into the upper legs in a non-dermatomal distribution. Most patients report an aching type of pain exacerbated by activity, sometimes with morning stiffness. The diagnostic value of abnormal radiologic findings is poor owing to the low specificity. SPECT can accurately identify joint inflammation and has a predictive value for diagnostic lumbar facet injections. After "red flags" are ruled out, conservatives should be considered. In those unresponsive to conservative therapy with symptoms and physical examination suggesting lumbar facet joint pain, a diagnostic/prognostic medial branch block can be performed which remains the most reliable way to select patients for radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSIONS Well-selected individuals with chronic low back originating from the facet joints may benefit from lumbar medial branch radiofrequency ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra A S Van den Heuvel
- Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Steven P C Cohen
- Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Koen Van Boxem
- Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem Kallewaard
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rijnstate Ziekenhuis, Velp, The Netherlands
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Van Zundert
- Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Knezevic NN, Candido KD, Vlaeyen JWS, Van Zundert J, Cohen SP. Low back pain. Lancet 2021; 398:78-92. [PMID: 34115979 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00733-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 440] [Impact Index Per Article: 146.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Low back pain covers a spectrum of different types of pain (eg, nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic, or non-specific) that frequently overlap. The elements comprising the lumbar spine (eg, soft tissue, vertebrae, zygapophyseal and sacroiliac joints, intervertebral discs, and neurovascular structures) are prone to different stressors, and each of these, alone or in combination, can contribute to low back pain. Due to numerous factors related to low back pain, and the low specificity of imaging and diagnostic injections, diagnostic methods for this condition continue to be a subject of controversy. The biopsychosocial model posits low back pain to be a dynamic interaction between social, psychological, and biological factors that can both predispose to and result from injury, and should be considered when devising interdisciplinary treatment plans. Prevention of low back pain is recognised as a pivotal challenge in high-risk populations to help tackle high health-care costs related to therapy and rehabilitation. To a large extent, therapy depends on pain classification, and usually starts with self-care and pharmacotherapy in combination with non-pharmacological methods, such as physical therapies and psychological treatments in appropriate patients. For refractory low back pain, a wide range of non-surgical (eg, epidural steroid injections and spinal cord stimulation for neuropathic pain, and radiofrequency ablation and intra-articular steroid injections for mechanical pain) and surgical (eg, decompression for neuropathic pain, disc replacement, and fusion for mechanical causes) treatment options are available in carefully selected patients. Most treatment options address only single, solitary causes and given the complex nature of low back pain, a multimodal interdisciplinary approach is necessary. Although globally recognised as an important health and socioeconomic challenge with an expected increase in prevalence, low back pain continues to have tremendous potential for improvement in both diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Future research on low back pain should focus on improving the accuracy and objectivity of diagnostic assessments, and devising treatment algorithms that consider unique biological, psychological, and social factors. High-quality comparative-effectiveness and randomised controlled trials with longer follow-up periods that aim to establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of low back pain management are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nebojsa Nick Knezevic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Kenneth D Candido
- Department of Anesthesiology, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Johan W S Vlaeyen
- Research Group Health Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Research Group Experimental Health Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; TRACE Center for Translational Health Research, KU, Leuven-Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium
| | - Jan Van Zundert
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Steven P Cohen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Anesthesiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Latini E, Curci ER, Nusca SM, Lacopo A, Musa F, Santoboni F, Trischitta D, Vetrano M, Vulpiani MC. Medical ozone therapy in facet joint syndrome: an overview of sonoanatomy, ultrasound-guided injection techniques and potential mechanism of action. Med Gas Res 2021; 11:145-151. [PMID: 34213496 PMCID: PMC8374461 DOI: 10.4103/2045-9912.318859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Facet joint osteoarthritis is the most prevalent source of facet joint pain and represents a significant cause of low back pain. Oxygen-ozone therapy has been shown to have positive results in acute and chronic spinal degeneration diseases and it could be a safe and efficacious alternative to traditional facet joint conservative treatments. This review article explains the interventional facet joint management with ultrasound-guided oxygen-ozone therapy, providing an anatomy/sonoanatomy overview of lumbar facet joints and summarizing the potential mechanism of action of oxygen-ozone in the treatment of facet joint osteoarthritis, not yet fully understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Latini
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Roberto Curci
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sveva Maria Nusca
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Lacopo
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Musa
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Santoboni
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Trischitta
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Vetrano
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Vulpiani
- Unit of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Conger A, Burnham T, Speckman RA, Randall D, Reisinger R, Tate Q, Spiker R, Schneider B, Cushman DM, McCormick ZL. The Accuracy of SPECT/CT for Diagnosing Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joint Pain: a Systematic Review. CURRENT PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40141-019-00237-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Hofmann UK, Keller RL, Walter C, Mittag F. Predictability of the effects of facet joint infiltration in the degenerate lumbar spine when assessing MRI scans. J Orthop Surg Res 2017; 12:180. [PMID: 29162138 PMCID: PMC5699022 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-017-0685-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Imaging results are frequently considered as hallmarks of disease by spine surgeons to plan their future treatment strategy. Numerous classification systems have been proposed to quantify or grade lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and thus objectify imaging findings. The clinical impact of the measured parameters remains, however, unclear. To evaluate the pathological significance of imaging findings in patients with multisegmental degenerative findings, clinicians can perform image-guided local infiltrations to target defined areas such as the facet joints. The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the correlation of MRI facet joint degeneration and spinal stenosis measurements with improvement obtained by image-guided intraarticular facet joint infiltration. Methods Fifty MRI scans of patients with chronic lumbar back pain were graded radiologically using a wide range of classification and measurement systems. The reported effect of facet joint injections at the site was recorded, and a comparative analysis performed. Results When we allocated patients according to their reported pain relief, 27 showed no improvement (0–30%), 16 reported good improvement (31–75%) and 7 reported excellent improvement (> 75%). MRI features assessed in this study did, however, not show any relevant correlation with reported pain after facet joint infiltration: Values for Kendall’s tau ranged from τ = − 0.190 for neuroforaminal stenosis grading as suggested by Lee, to τ = 0.133 for posterior disc height as proposed by Hasegawa. Conclusion Despite the trend in evidence-based medicine to provide medical algorithms, our findings underline the continuing need for individualised spine care that, along with imaging techniques or targeted infiltrations, includes diagnostic dimensions such as good patient history and clinical examination to formulate a diagnosis. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03308149, retrospectively registered October 2017 Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13018-017-0685-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulf Krister Hofmann
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Ramona Luise Keller
- Faculty of Medicine, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str.2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Walter
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Falk Mittag
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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Van de Kelft E, Verleye G, Van de Kelft AS, Melis K, Van Goethem J. Validation of topographic hybrid single-photon emission computerized tomography with computerized tomography scan in patients with and without nonspecific chronic low back pain. A prospective comparative study. Spine J 2017; 17:1457-1463. [PMID: 28495243 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT The evidence for the treatment for nonspecific chronic low back pain (ns CLBP) is very weak. Besides the complexity of the pain experience, a good biological marker or tool enabling identification of a pain generator is lacking. Hybrid imaging, combining single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) with computerized tomography (CT) scan, has been proposed as useful in the diagnostic workup of patients with CLBP. PURPOSE To evaluate the sensitivity of SPECT-CT in patients with ns CLBP (Group I) as compared with patients without CLBP (Group II). STUDY DESIGN A prospective comparative study. PATIENT SAMPLE Two hundred patients were enrolled: 96 in Group I and 104 in Group II. OUTCOME MEASURES Only the physiological measurement of the incidence of hot spots was performed. The hot spots were rated as follows: 0=normal; 1=slightly colored (no hot spot on whole-body bone scan); and 2=clear hot spot (can be identified on the whole-body bone scan and confirmed on SPECT). To analyze the interobserver agreement when using this scoring system, a second independent reading was performed for 50 randomly chosen records. METHODS Two hundred patients divided into two groups were referred to the department of Medical and Molecular Imaging for a topographic SPECT-CT. The first group consisted of patients with ns CLBP, diagnosed by a neurosurgeon. The control group consisted of patients referred for SPECT-CT for non-spinal conditions. Hot spots were assessed for all patients. A second independent reading, blinded for the results of the first reader, was performed on 25 randomly selected patients in each group. This study was investigator initiated, and no funding was received. None of the authors or their proxies have a potential conflict of interest. RESULTS The odds of finding a normal image in the control group are 2.05 times higher than in Group I. The sensitivity score equals 2.37, meaning that the probability of detecting a hot spot (levels 1 or 2) is more than two times higher in Group I. When focusing on level 2 hot spots only, this score rises to 7.02, indicative of a high sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS Single-photon emission computerized tomography with computerized tomography might have potential in the diagnostic workup of patients with ns CLBP, owing to its higher sensitivity when compared with other advanced medical imaging modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Van de Kelft
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital Nikolaas, Moerlandstraat, 1, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.
| | - Gino Verleye
- Department of Social Sciences, University Ghent, De Pintelaan, 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Koen Melis
- Department of Medical and Molecular Imaging, Section of Nuclear Medicine, General Hospital Nikolaas, Moerlandstraat, 1, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Goethem
- Department of Medical Imaging, General Hospital Nikolaas, Moerlandstraat, 1, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium; Department of Medical Imaging, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat, 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
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Shin SH, Kim SJ. Bone scintigraphy in patients with pain. Korean J Pain 2017; 30:165-175. [PMID: 28757916 PMCID: PMC5532523 DOI: 10.3344/kjp.2017.30.3.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear medicine imaging is widely used in pain medicine. Low back pain is commonly encountered by physicians, with its prevalence from 49% to 70%. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are usually used to evaluate the cause of low back pain, however, these findings from these scans could also be observed in asymptomatic patients. Bone scintigraphy has an additional value in patients with low back pain. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is defined as a painful disorder of the extremities, which is characterized by sensory, autonomic, vasomotor, and trophic disturbances. To assist the diagnosis of CRPS, three-phase bone scintigraphy is thought to be superior compared to other modalities, and could be used to rule out CRPS due to its high specificity. Studies regarding the effect of bone scintigraphy in patients with extremity pain have not been widely conducted. Ultrasound, CT and MRI are widely used imaging modalities for evaluating extremity pain. However, SPECT/CT has an additional role in assessing pain in the extremities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Hyeon Shin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
| | - Seong Jang Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.,BioMedical Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
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