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Establishing an optimal "cutoff" threshold for diagnostic lumbar facet blocks: a prospective correlational study.

Authors :
Cohen SP
Strassels SA
Kurihara C
Griffith SR
Goff B
Guthmiller K
Hoang HT
Morlando B
Nguyen C
Source :
The Clinical journal of pain [Clin J Pain] 2013 May; Vol. 29 (5), pp. 382-91.
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

Objectives: Diagnostic medial branch blocks (MBB) are considered the reference standard for diagnosing facetogenic pain and selecting patients for radiofrequency (RF) denervation. Great controversy exists regarding the ideal cutoff for designating a block as positive. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal pain relief threshold for selecting patients for RF denervation after diagnostic MBB.<br />Methods: In this multicenter, prospective correlational study, 61 consecutive patients undergoing lumbar facet RF denervation after experiencing significant pain relief after MBB were enrolled. A positive outcome was defined as a ≥50% reduction in back pain at rest or with activity coupled with a positive satisfaction score lasting longer than 3 months. The relationship between pain relief after the blocks and denervation outcomes was evaluated by pairwise correlation matrix, receiver's operating characteristic curve, and stratifying outcomes based on 10- and 17-percentage point intervals for MBB.<br />Results: There were no significant differences in RF outcomes based on any MBB pain relief cutoff over 50%. A trend was noted whereby those patients who obtained <50% pain relief reported poorer outcomes. No optimal threshold for designating a diagnostic block as positive, above 50% pain relief, could be calculated.<br />Conclusion: Employing more stringent selection criteria for lumbar facet RF is likely to result in withholding a beneficial procedure from a substantial number of patients, without improving success rates.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1536-5409
Volume :
29
Issue :
5
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
The Clinical journal of pain
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
23023310
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e31825f53bf