Ultrasound versus fluoroscopy-guided cervical medial branch block for the treatment of chronic cervical facet joint pain: a retrospective comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the mid-term effects and advantages of the ultrasound (US)-guided with fluoroscopy(FL)-guided cervical medial branch blocks (CMBBs) for chronic cervical facet joint pain through assessment of pain relief, functional improvement, and injection efficiency.


METHODS
Patients with chronic cervical facet joint pain who received US- (n = 68) or FL-guided CMBBs (n = 58) were included in this retrospective study. All procedures were performed using a FL or US. The complication frequencies, treatment effects, functional improvement, and injection efficiency of CMBBs were compared at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last injection.


RESULTS
Both the NDI and VNS scores showed improvements at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last injection in both groups, with no significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the treatment success rate at all time points was not significantly different between groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the injection method (US- or FL-guided), the number of injections, sex, analgesic use, and age were not independent predictors of treatment success. Compared with FL-guided CMBB, US-guided CMBB was associated with a shorter administration duration and fewer needle passes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that, compared with FL-guided CMBBs, US-guided CMBBs require a shorter administration duration and fewer needle passes, while providing similar pain relief and functional improvements. Therefore, US-guided CMBBs can be considered as an effective alternative for the conservative management of chronic cervical facet joint pain.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gachon University, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
Ki Deok
KD
Park
Seoul Spine Institute, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Dong-Ju
DJ
Lim
Department of Anesthesiology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Woo Yong
WY
Lee
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
JaeKi
J
Ahn
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. swc328@naver.com.
Yongbum
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8288-9450
Y
Park
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000187:drug effects
D000779:Anesthetics, Local
Cervical facet joint pain; Fluoroscopy; Medial branch block; Ultrasound