The zygapophysial joints(z-joints), together with the intervertebral disc, form a functional spine unit. The joints are typical synovial joints with an innervation from two medial branches of the dorsal rami. The join...The zygapophysial joints(z-joints), together with the intervertebral disc, form a functional spine unit. The joints are typical synovial joints with an innervation from two medial branches of the dorsal rami. The joint capsule and the surrounding structures have an extensive nerve supply. The stretching of the capsule and loads being transmitted through the joint can causepain. The importance of the z-joints as a pain generator is often underestimated because the prevalence of z-joint pain(10%-80%) is difficult to specify. Z-joint pain is a somatic referred pain. Morning stiffness and pain when moving from a sitting to a standing position are typical. No historic or physical examination variables exist to identify z-joint pain. Also, radiologic findings do not have a diagnostic value for pain from z-joints. The method with the best acceptance for diagnosing z-joint pain is controlled medial branch blocks(MBBs). They are the most validated of all spinal interventions, although false-positive and false-negative results exist and the degree of pain relief after MBBs remains contentious. The prevalence of z-joint pain increases with age, and it often comes along with other pain sources. Degenerative changes are commonly found. Z-joints are often affected by osteoarthritis and inflammatory processes. Often additional factors including synovial cysts, spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, and injuries are present. The only truly validated treatment is medial branch neurotomy. The available technique vindicates the use of radiofrequency neurotomy provided that the correct technique is used and patients are selected rigorously using controlled blocks.展开更多
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 cont...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.展开更多
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...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.展开更多
A 34-year-old woman visited our clinic with complaints of trismus, numbness in the left half of the tongue, and pain in tooth 34. At the patient’s initial visit to our clinic, the maximum assisted jaw opening movemen...A 34-year-old woman visited our clinic with complaints of trismus, numbness in the left half of the tongue, and pain in tooth 34. At the patient’s initial visit to our clinic, the maximum assisted jaw opening movement was 20 mm, pointing to severe trismus. The patient complained of spontaneous pain in tooth 34 but did not evince percussion pain. Her pain remained unchanged even under local anesthesia. Radiography showed no pathological findings. A tenderness test of masticatory muscles failed to induce pain. The presence of severe trismus argued against temporomandibular disorders, resulting in suspicion of other inflammatory disease. In view of numbness of the tongue, other diseases such as inflammation or neoplastic disease in the head and neck region were considered. The patient was referred to the departments of neurosurgery and otolaryngology for examination. The results of MRI and CT diagnosis led to the identification of acute myositis of the left medial pterygoid muscle requiring the prescription of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and relaxation of mandibular muscles. With time, maximum unassisted jaw opening improved and pain in tooth 34 ceased, but tongue numbness persisted. The condition was attributed to compression of lingual nerve (LN) and mandibular nerve (MN) resulting from medial pterygoid muscle inflammation.展开更多
目的:观察超声引导下内热针治疗脊神经后支源性腰痛的临床疗效。方法:2021年10月-2022年3月十堰市太和医院康复科收治的脊神经后支源性腰痛患者60例,随机分为两组,每组各30例。研究组采用超声引导腰脊神经后支支配区内热针治疗,对照组...目的:观察超声引导下内热针治疗脊神经后支源性腰痛的临床疗效。方法:2021年10月-2022年3月十堰市太和医院康复科收治的脊神经后支源性腰痛患者60例,随机分为两组,每组各30例。研究组采用超声引导腰脊神经后支支配区内热针治疗,对照组采用常规针刺疗法。行视觉模拟评分法(visual analog scale,VAS)、腰椎活动度评分评估两组患者在治疗后1 d、1周及6月的临床疗效,比较两组总有效率,并统计不良反应发生情况。结果:与对照组相比,研究组患者治疗后1周及6月后VAS评分显著降低(P<0.05);研究组治疗后6月腰椎活动度比对照组显著提高(P<0.05);研究组总有效率明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。两组患者均未见特殊并发症及不良反应。结论:超声引导下行内热针治疗能更有效地缓解疼痛,临床操作安全易行,疗效较好。展开更多
文摘目的:比较体外冲击波疗法(extracorporeal shockwave therapy,ESWT)联合传统治疗和单纯传统治疗对膝内侧副韧带陈旧性损伤患者的效果。方法:回顾性分析2019年11月—2022年1月在珠海市第五人民医院治疗的85例膝内侧副韧带陈旧性损伤患者,根据治疗方案不同分组,其中对照组41例予以传统治疗,治疗组44例予以ESWT联合传统治疗。评估患者治疗前、治疗后和随访时的疼痛视觉模拟评分法(visual analog scale,VAS)评分、膝关节活动度、Lysholm膝关节评分和疗效。结果:在治疗后及随访时,两组患者在VAS评分、膝关节活动度、Lysholm膝关节评分方面均较治疗前有改善(P<0.05)。治疗组各项指标的改善效果明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。对照组临床治疗总有效率达46.34%,治疗组总有效率达95.45%,治疗组的总有效率显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:ESWT联合传统治疗能明显缓解膝内侧副韧带陈旧性损伤患者膝关节疼痛,改善膝关节功能,疗效优于单纯传统治疗。
文摘The zygapophysial joints(z-joints), together with the intervertebral disc, form a functional spine unit. The joints are typical synovial joints with an innervation from two medial branches of the dorsal rami. The joint capsule and the surrounding structures have an extensive nerve supply. The stretching of the capsule and loads being transmitted through the joint can causepain. The importance of the z-joints as a pain generator is often underestimated because the prevalence of z-joint pain(10%-80%) is difficult to specify. Z-joint pain is a somatic referred pain. Morning stiffness and pain when moving from a sitting to a standing position are typical. No historic or physical examination variables exist to identify z-joint pain. Also, radiologic findings do not have a diagnostic value for pain from z-joints. The method with the best acceptance for diagnosing z-joint pain is controlled medial branch blocks(MBBs). They are the most validated of all spinal interventions, although false-positive and false-negative results exist and the degree of pain relief after MBBs remains contentious. The prevalence of z-joint pain increases with age, and it often comes along with other pain sources. Degenerative changes are commonly found. Z-joints are often affected by osteoarthritis and inflammatory processes. Often additional factors including synovial cysts, spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, and injuries are present. The only truly validated treatment is medial branch neurotomy. The available technique vindicates the use of radiofrequency neurotomy provided that the correct technique is used and patients are selected rigorously using controlled blocks.
文摘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.
文摘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.
文摘A 34-year-old woman visited our clinic with complaints of trismus, numbness in the left half of the tongue, and pain in tooth 34. At the patient’s initial visit to our clinic, the maximum assisted jaw opening movement was 20 mm, pointing to severe trismus. The patient complained of spontaneous pain in tooth 34 but did not evince percussion pain. Her pain remained unchanged even under local anesthesia. Radiography showed no pathological findings. A tenderness test of masticatory muscles failed to induce pain. The presence of severe trismus argued against temporomandibular disorders, resulting in suspicion of other inflammatory disease. In view of numbness of the tongue, other diseases such as inflammation or neoplastic disease in the head and neck region were considered. The patient was referred to the departments of neurosurgery and otolaryngology for examination. The results of MRI and CT diagnosis led to the identification of acute myositis of the left medial pterygoid muscle requiring the prescription of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and relaxation of mandibular muscles. With time, maximum unassisted jaw opening improved and pain in tooth 34 ceased, but tongue numbness persisted. The condition was attributed to compression of lingual nerve (LN) and mandibular nerve (MN) resulting from medial pterygoid muscle inflammation.
文摘目的:观察超声引导下内热针治疗脊神经后支源性腰痛的临床疗效。方法:2021年10月-2022年3月十堰市太和医院康复科收治的脊神经后支源性腰痛患者60例,随机分为两组,每组各30例。研究组采用超声引导腰脊神经后支支配区内热针治疗,对照组采用常规针刺疗法。行视觉模拟评分法(visual analog scale,VAS)、腰椎活动度评分评估两组患者在治疗后1 d、1周及6月的临床疗效,比较两组总有效率,并统计不良反应发生情况。结果:与对照组相比,研究组患者治疗后1周及6月后VAS评分显著降低(P<0.05);研究组治疗后6月腰椎活动度比对照组显著提高(P<0.05);研究组总有效率明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。两组患者均未见特殊并发症及不良反应。结论:超声引导下行内热针治疗能更有效地缓解疼痛,临床操作安全易行,疗效较好。
