Background: The prevalence of persistent low back pain with the involvement of lumbar facet or zygapophysial joints has been described in controlled studies as varying from 15% to 45% based on the criteria of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Therapeutic interventions utilized in managing chronic low back pain of facet joint origin include intraarticular injections, medial branch nerve blocks, and neurolysis of medial branch nerves.
Objective: To determine the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks in managing chronic low back pain of facet joint origin.
Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.
Setting: An interventional pain management setting in the United States.
Methods: In this preliminary analysis, data from a total of 60 patients were included, with 15 patients in each of 4 groups. Thirty patients were in a non-steroid group consisting of Groups I (control, with lumbar facet joint nerve blocks using bupivacaine ) and II (with lumbar facet joint nerve blocks using bupivacaine and Sarapin); another 30 patients were in a steroid group consisting of Groups III (with lumbar facet joint nerve blocks using bupivacaine and steroids) and IV (with lumbar facet joint nerve blocks using bupivacaine, Sarapin, and steroids). All patients met the diagnostic criteria of lumbar facet joint pain by means of comparative, controlled diagnostic blocks.
Outcome measures: Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scale, the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0 (ODI), employment status, and opioid intake.
Results: Significant improvement in pain and functional status were observed at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, compared to baseline measurements. The average number of treatments for 1 year was 3.7 with no significant differences among the groups. Duration of average pain relief with each procedure was 14.8 +/- 7.9 weeks in the non-steroid group, and 12.5 +/- 3.3 weeks in the steroid group, with no significant differences among the groups.
Conclusion: Therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks with local anesthetic, with or without Sarapin or steroids, may be effective in the treatment of chronic low back pain of facet joint origin.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00355914.