Lecturer of Neurological Surgery Beni Suef University, Bani Suwayf, Egypt
Disclosure(s):
Ahmed Atallah Saad: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction: The facet joints are synovial joints that may be pain generators in patients with chronic low back pain.This is now well known as facet syndrome. The aim of this study is to provide our experience aboutefficacy, safety and technique of combined treatment with medial branch radiofrequency rhizotomy andsteroid block for lumbar facet syndrome. Although radiofrequency ablation is frequently used, there is nohigh quality evidence for its efficacy.
Methods: Thirty-eight patients were managed by combined treatment with medial branch radiofrequencyrhizotomy and steroid block (the intervention group). The VAS (Visual analog scale) before theintervention (pre-VAS), one week after the intervention (immediate post VAS), at one month (post VAS 1),at three months (post VAS 2) and at six months after the intervention (post VAS 3) were compared at eachtime point with the control group (38 patients). The control group received the best medical treatmentand a regular exercise program for six months. Diagnostic block was done for all cases.
Results: There were significant differences between both groups concerning immediate post VAS, post VAS 1, post VAS 2 and post VAS 3 as the P values were < 0.01 in all relationships. No adverse events of infection, neurologic injury, or any other complication were reported.
Conclusion : Participants with lumbar facet syndrome who received combined treatment with medial branch radiofrequency rhizotomy and steroid block experienced significant clinical improvement compared to those who received conservative treatment.
