Evaluation of Lumbar Facet Joint Nerve Blocks in Managing Chronic Low Back Pain: a two year study.

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2018

Dr. Kanika, Dr. Karan Siwach, Dr. Aruna Yadav, Dr. Mayank Dutta, Dr. Aman Siwach

Objective: To determine the clinical effectiveness of lumbar facet joint nerve blocks with or without steroids in managing chronic low back pain of

facet joint origin.

Methods: The study included 120 patients with 60 patients in each group with local anesthetic alone or local anesthetic and steroids. The inclusion

criteria was based upon a positive response to diagnostic controlled, comparative local anesthetic lumbar facet joint blocks. Outcome measures

included the numeric rating scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), opioid intake, and work status, at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.

This is a randomized, double–blind, controlled trial.

Results: Significant improvement with significant pain relief of ≥ 50% and functional improvement of ≥ 40% were observed in 85% in Group 1,

and 90% in Group II, at 2–year follow–up. The patients in the study experienced significant pain relief for 82 to 84 weeks of 104 weeks, requiring

approximately 5 to 6 treatments with an average relief of 19 weeks per episode of treatment.

Conclusions: Therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks, with or without steroids, may provide a management option for chronic functionlimiting

low back pain of facet joint origin.

Conflict of interest: none.