A new method for stimulation of cervical facet joint under ultrasonographic guidance.
- Author:
Kang AHN
1
;
Eun Jung KIM
;
Jae Hun KIM
;
Soo Young PARK
;
Sang Chul LEE
Author Information
1. Chronic Pain Management Center, Cha Biomedical Center, Kangnam Cha Hospital, College of Medicine CHA University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cervical facet arthropathy;
Dry needling;
Ultrasonography
- MeSH:
Humans;
Interviews as Topic;
Joints;
Medical Records;
Neck;
Neck Pain;
Needles;
Retrospective Studies;
Zygapophyseal Joint
- From:Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2010;5(3):196-200
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Cervical facet joint needling and stimulation is useful for the management of cervical facet arthropathy, but a direct needling of the joint may injure the capsule and cause post-needling pain.We developed a new approaching technique for cervical facet joint needling and stimulation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 24 patients with cervical facet arthropathy who underwent facet joint needling and stimulation through oblique posterior approach.Under ultrasonographic guidance, a specially designed dry needle (Ahn's needle) was inserted at midline of posterior neck and advanced obliquely to posterior and lateral side of facet joint.The procedure was completed when a marked reduction in resistance was felt at the tip of the needle.Follow-ups using the numeric rating pain scale (NRS) and the rate of self-rated improvement were conducted at three weeks and about three months after last treatment by telephone interview. RESULTS: Among them, 23 patients were enrolled.The average of NRS decreased from 6.8 +/- 3.0 to 2.7 +/- 3.0 at 3 weeks and to 2.9 +/- 2.0 at 3 months after the last treatment (P < 0.05).The average rate of self-rated improvement was 63.7 +/- 7.2 and 61.6 +/- 3.0% at 3 weeks and 3 months after the last treatment respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our result suggested that this technique for dry needling around cervical facet joint under ultrasound guidance is one of the successful options to treat neck pain derived from facet joint.
