Efficacy of Ultrasonography-Guided Injections in Patients with Facet Syndrome of the Low Lumbar Spine.
- Author:
Dong Hwan YUN
1
;
Hee Sang KIM
;
Seung Don YOO
;
Dong Hwan KIM
;
Jinn Man CHON
;
Seong He CHOI
;
Dae Gyu HWANG
;
Pil Kyo JUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords: Intraarticular injections; Zygapophysial joint; Low-back pain; Ultrasonography
- MeSH: Activities of Daily Living; Fluoroscopy; Humans; Injections, Intra-Articular; Spine; Treatment Outcome; Zygapophyseal Joint
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine 2012;36(1):66-71
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of ultrasonography (US)-guided injections in patients with low lumbar facet syndrome, compared with that in patients who received fluoroscopy (FS)-guided injections. METHOD: Fifty-seven subjects with facet syndrome of the lumbar spine of the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels were randomly divided into two groups to receive intraarticular injections into the facet joint. One group received FS-guided facet joint injections and the other group received US-guided facet joint injections. Treatment effectiveness was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS), physician's and patient's global assessment (PhyGA, PaGA), and the modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI). All parameters were evaluated four times: before injections, and at a week, a month, and three months after injections. We also measured, in both groups, how long it took to complete the whole procedure. RESULTS: Each group showed significant improvement from the facet joint injections on the VAS, PhyGA, PaGA, and MODI (p<0.05). However at a week, a month, and three months after injections, no significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to VAS, PhyGA, PaGA, and MODI (p>0.05). Statistically significant differences in procedure time were observed between groups (FS: 248.7+/-6.5 sec; US: 263.4+/-5.9 sec; p=0.023). CONCLUSION: US-guided injections in patients with lumbar facet syndrome are as effective as FS-guided injections for pain relief and improving activities of daily living.
