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  • Title: Ultrasound versus fluoroscopy-guided cervical medial branch block for the treatment of chronic cervical facet joint pain: a retrospective comparative study.
    Author: Park KD, Lim DJ, Lee WY, Ahn J, Park Y.
    Journal: Skeletal Radiol; 2017 Jan; 46(1):81-91. PubMed ID: 27815597.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To compare the mid-term effects and advantages of the ultrasound (US)-guided with fluoroscopy(FL)-guided cervical medial branch blocks (CMBBs) for chronic cervical facet joint pain through assessment of pain relief, functional improvement, and injection efficiency. METHODS: Patients with chronic cervical facet joint pain who received US- (n = 68) or FL-guided CMBBs (n = 58) were included in this retrospective study. All procedures were performed using a FL or US. The complication frequencies, treatment effects, functional improvement, and injection efficiency of CMBBs were compared at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last injection. RESULTS: Both the NDI and VNS scores showed improvements at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last injection in both groups, with no significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the treatment success rate at all time points was not significantly different between groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the injection method (US- or FL-guided), the number of injections, sex, analgesic use, and age were not independent predictors of treatment success. Compared with FL-guided CMBB, US-guided CMBB was associated with a shorter administration duration and fewer needle passes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, compared with FL-guided CMBBs, US-guided CMBBs require a shorter administration duration and fewer needle passes, while providing similar pain relief and functional improvements. Therefore, US-guided CMBBs can be considered as an effective alternative for the conservative management of chronic cervical facet joint pain.
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