Byron J Schneider1, Lisa Doan2, Marc K Maes3, Kevin R Martinez4, Alan Gonzalez Cota5, Nikolai Bogduk6. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. 2. Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. 3. Department of Anesthesia, Pain Clinic, A.Z. Jan Portaels, Vilvoorde, Belgium, Rugpoli Brabant/Kliniek, Tilburg, the Netherlands. 4. Southern Brain and Spine, New Orleans, Louisiana. 5. Legacy Spine and Pain Rehabilitation, Bethesda, Maryland. 6. Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of lumbar medial branch thermal radiofrequency neurotomy based on different selection criteria and procedural techniques. DESIGN: Comprehensive systematic review. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and all authors screened and evaluated the studies. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was used to assess all eligible studies. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure assessed was the success rate of the procedure, defined by varying degrees of pain relief following neurotomy. Data are stratified by number of diagnostic blocks and degree of pain relief, as well as procedural technique with perpendicular or parallel placement of electrodes. RESULTS: Results varied by selection criteria and procedural technique. At six months, 26% of patients selected via single medial branch block with 50% pain relief and treated via perpendicular technique achieved at least 50% pain relief; 49% of patients selected via dual medial branch blocks with 50% pain relief and treated via parallel technique achieved at least 50% pain relief. The most rigorous patient selection and technique-two diagnostic medial branch blocks with 100% pain relief and parallel electrode placement-resulted in 56% of patients experiencing 100% relief of pain at six months. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive systematic review found differences in the effectiveness of lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy when studies were stratified by patient selection criteria and procedural technique. The best outcomes are achieved when patients are selected based on high degrees of pain relief from dual medial branch blocks with a technique employing parallel electrode placement.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of lumbar medial branch thermal radiofrequency neurotomy based on different selection criteria and procedural techniques. DESIGN: Comprehensive systematic review. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and all authors screened and evaluated the studies. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was used to assess all eligible studies. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure assessed was the success rate of the procedure, defined by varying degrees of pain relief following neurotomy. Data are stratified by number of diagnostic blocks and degree of pain relief, as well as procedural technique with perpendicular or parallel placement of electrodes. RESULTS: Results varied by selection criteria and procedural technique. At six months, 26% of patients selected via single medial branch block with 50% pain relief and treated via perpendicular technique achieved at least 50% pain relief; 49% of patients selected via dual medial branch blocks with 50% pain relief and treated via parallel technique achieved at least 50% pain relief. The most rigorous patient selection and technique-two diagnostic medial branch blocks with 100% pain relief and parallel electrode placement-resulted in 56% of patients experiencing 100% relief of pain at six months. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive systematic review found differences in the effectiveness of lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy when studies were stratified by patient selection criteria and procedural technique. The best outcomes are achieved when patients are selected based on high degrees of pain relief from dual medial branch blocks with a technique employing parallel electrode placement.
Authors: Rajesh N Janapala; Laxmaiah Manchikanti; Mahendra R Sanapati; Srinivasa Thota; Alaa Abd-Elsayed; Alan D Kaye; Joshua A Hirsch Journal: J Pain Res Date: 2021-09-10 Impact factor: 3.133
Authors: Matthew C Mauck; Aileen F Aylward; Chloe E Barton; Brandon Birckhead; Timothy Carey; Diane M Dalton; Aaron J Fields; Julie Fritz; Afton L Hassett; Anna Hoffmeyer; Sara B Jones; Samuel A McLean; Wolf E Mehling; Conor W O'Neill; Michael J Schneider; David A Williams; Patricia Zheng; Ajay D Wasan Journal: Pain Rep Date: 2022-09-30