Treatment of large lumbar disc herniation with percutaneous ozone injection via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint

AIM:To evaluate the effects of percutaneous ozone injection via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint in the treatment of large lumbar disc herniation.METHODS:Fifty-eight patients with large lumbar disc herniation were treated with percutaneous injection of ozone via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint under digital subtraction angiography.Second injections were performed 5 d after the initial injection.All patients were followed up for 6-18 mo.A modified Macnab method was used for assessing clinical outcomes after oxygen-ozone therapy.RESULTS:Successful puncture was obtained in all patients.The overall efficacy was 91.4;the outcome was the excellent in 37 cases(63.8),good in 16 cases(27.6) and fair/poor in 5 cases(8.6) according to the Macnab criteria.No severe complications were found throughout this study.CONCLUSION:Percutaneous intradiscal ozone injection via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint is effective and safe for treatment of large lumbar disc herniation.

Case Series of Methylene Blue Injections for the Treatment of Zygapophysial and Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Results of 5 Cases

Introduction: Shealy is credited with the use of fluoroscopy guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for denervation of the lumbar zygapophysial (L-Z) joint in the mid-1970’s. Peng and colleagues described the use of methylene blue (MB) injection for discogenic pain;MB may work through direct neurotoxicity or inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. We present a retrospective case series of five patients with L-Z or SI joint pain where MB used as an alternative to RFA. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective case series of five patients who received MB for the chemical neurolysis of either medial or/and lateral branch’s for zygapophysial or SI joint pain. All of the MB blocks were done under fluoroscopic guidance and performed in the same manner as diagnostic medial and lateral branch blocks but with care to consider the medication as neurotoxic in relation to spinal nerves. On average 1cc of 0.05% final concentration MB was injected per nerve or sacral foraminal level. Results: Four of the five patients had significant lasting pain relief. Discussion: Chemical neurolysis has potential to achieve technical success in these refractory cases of spine pain possibly due to spread over a broader area;for this same reason the procedure should be performed carefully under fluoroscopic guidance.

The Anatomy of Dorsal Ramus Nerves and Its Implications in Lower Back Pain

This article reviews the relationship between the spinal dorsal ramus system and low back pain, including the anatomy, clinical findings, pathogenesis and treatment of low back pain mediated by spinal dorsal ramus and zygapophysial (facet) joint syndrome. Each spinal dorsal ramus arises from the spinal nerve and then divides into a medial and lateral branch. The medial branch supplies the tissues from the midline to the zygapophysial joint line and innervates two to three adjacent zygapophysial joints and their related soft tissues. The lateral branch innervates the tissues lateral to the zygapophysial joint line. The clinical pain presentations follow these anatomic distributions, which can be used for localizing the involved dorsal ramus. The diagnosis can be confirmed by performing a single dorsal ramus block that results in relief of pain and muscle spasm. Etiologically, any factor that stimulates the spinal dorsal ramus can cause low back pain, which is distinct from zygapophysial joint syndrome. Clinically, L1 and L2 are the most common sites of dorsal rami involvement. Treatment includes spinal dorsal ramus injection therapy and percutaneous neurotomy. Summarily, irritation of the spinal dorsal ramus system is a potential source of low back pain. Based on the anatomy and clinical presentation, the involved spinal dorsal ramus can be localized and treated.

Association between Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Result of Medial Branch Blocks

The aim of this retrospective practice audit was to assess the correlation between painful zygapophysial joints and changes seen in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with unilateral pain were tested with controlled medial branch blocks. The MRI scans of patients with a positive response were compared blinded with normal MRI scans. The dimensions of the joint were assessed and osteoarthritis was graded. Fifteen symptomatic patients and 15 asymptomatic patients were included and evaluated. Comparison of the joints showed that the maximum diameter of symptomatic joints was significantly larger, and the grading of osteoarthritis was significantly higher for symptomatic joints. No healthy patient was assigned a grade 3. Grades 2 and 3 were found significantly more often in symptomatic patients. Only one symptomatic joint was assigned grade 0. Grade 0 was found significantly more often in asympto-matic patients. The presented MRI technique has limited value as a diagnostic test for lumbar zygapophysial joint pain. It is not possible to detect a single symptomatic joint. However, the osteoarthritis grading for the lumbar zyg-apophysial joints might be helpful for finding predictors for negative response if the results of the rating are grade zero. Therefore, unnecessary medial branch blocks might be avoided.