Phantom Study of a New Laser-Etched Needle for Improving Visibility During Ultrasonography-Guided Lumbar Medial Branch Access With Novices.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the visibility and procedural parameters between a standard spinal needle and a new laser-etched needle (LEN) in real-time ultrasonography guided lumbar medial branch access in a phantom of the lumbosacral spine.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective single-blinded observational study at a rehabilitation medicine center. A new model of LEN was manufactured with a standard 22-gauge spinal needle and a laser etching machine. Thirty-two inexperienced polyclinic medical students performed ultrasonography-guided lumbar medial branch access using both a standard spinal needle and a LEN with scanning protocol. The outcomes included needle visibility score, needle elapsed time, first-pass success rate, and number of needle sticks.


RESULTS
The LEN received significantly better visibility scores and shorter needle elapsed time compared to the standard spinal needle. First-pass success rate and the number of needle sticks were not significantly different between needles.


CONCLUSIONS
A new LEN is expected to offer better visibility and enable inexperienced users to perform an ultrasonography-guided lumbar medial branch block more quickly. However, further study of variables may be necessary for clinical application.
Topteam Rehabilitation Clinic, Gwangju, Korea.
Jung Wook
0000-0002-2507-6111
JW
Park
Department of Hospital Biomedical Engineering, Dongshin University, Gwangju, Korea.
Min Woo
0000-0002-0979-4316
MW
Cheon
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
Min Hong
0000-0002-4457-5434
MH
Lee
Injections; Needles; Radiologic phantoms; Ultrasonography; Zygapophyseal joint