title: Value of CT fluoroscopy for lumbar facet blocks.
abstract: We compared the diagnostic accuracy of lumbar facet blocks guided by either conventional fluoroscopy or CT fluoroscopy (CTF). Seventy-one blocks were performed with conventional fluoroscopy, and 58 were performed using CTF. Pain scores were measured before and after the procedure. The CTF group had a greater percentage decrease in pain (79.5% +/- 31.1%) than did the conventional fluoroscopy group (55.5% +/- 38.0%; P < .0005). We conclude lumbar facet blocks by using CTF guidance results in greater diagnostic accuracy than do conventional fluoroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meleka
authors.forename: Ajanta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minkoff
authors.forename: Kieran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods