Analysis of Efficacy Differences between Caudal and Lumbar Interlaminar Epidural Injections in Chronic Lumbar Axial Discogenic Pain: Local Anesthetic Alone vs. Local Combined with Steroids

Study Design: Comparative assessment of randomized controlled trials of caudal and lumbar interlaminar epidural injections in chronic lumbar discogenic pain.Objective: To assess the comparative efficacy of caudal and lumbar interlaminar approaches of epidural injections in managing axial or discogenic low back pain.Summary of Background Data: Epidural injections are commonly performed utilizing either a caudal or lumbar interlaminar approach to treat chronic lumbar axial or discogenic pain, which is pain exclusive of that associated with a herniated intervertebral disc, or that is due to degeneration of the zygapophyseal joints, or due to dysfunction of the sacroiliac joints, respectively. The literature on the efficacy of epidural injections in managing chronic axial lumbar pain of presumed discogenic origin is limited.Methods: The present analysis is based on 2 randomized controlled trials of chronic axial low back pain not caused by disc herniation, radiculitis, or facet joint pain, utilizing either a caudal or lumbar interlaminar approach, with a total of 240 patients studied, and a 24-month follow-up. Patients were assigned to receive either local anesthetic only or local anesthetic with a steroid in each 60 patient group.Results: The primary outcome measure was significant improvement, defined as pain relief and functional status improvement of at least 50% from baseline, which was reported at 24-month follow-ups in 72% who received local anesthetic only with a lumbar interlaminar approach and 54% who received local anesthetic only with a caudal approach. In patients receiving local anesthetic with a steroid, the response rate was 67% for those who had a lumbar interlaminar approach and 68% for those who had a caudal approach at 12 months. The response was significantly better in the lumbar interlaminar group who received local anesthetic only, 77% versus 56% at 12 months and 72% versus 54% at 24 months.Conclusion: This assessment shows that in patients with axial or discogenic pain in the lumbar spine after excluding facet joint and SI Joint pain, epidural injections of local anesthetic by the caudal or lumbar interlaminar approach may be effective in managing chronic low back pain with a potential superiority for a lumbar interlaminar approach over a caudal approach.     

Evaluation of Lumbar Facet Joint Nerve Blocks in Managing Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized,Double-Blind,Controlled Trial with a 2-Year Follow-Up

Study Design: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.Objective: To determine the clinical effectiveness of therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks with or without steroids in managing chronic low back pain of facet joint origin.Summary of Background Data: Lumbar facet joints have been shown as the source of chronic pain in 21% to 41% of low back patients with an average prevalence of 31% utilizing controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks. Intraarticular injections, medial branch blocks, and radiofrequency neurotomy of lumbar facet joint nerves have been described in the alleviation of chronic low back pain of facet joint origin.Methods: The study included 120 patients with 60 patients in each group with local anesthetic alone or local anesthetic and steroids. The inclusion criteria was based upon a positive response to diagnostic controlled, comparative local anesthetic lumbar facet joint blocks.Outcome measures included the numeric rating scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), opioid intake, and work status, at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.Results: Significant improvement with significant pain relief of ≥ 50% and functional improvement of ≥ 40% were observed in 85% in Group 1, and 90% in Group II, at 2-year follow-up.The patients in the study experienced significant pain relief for 82 to 84 weeks of 104 weeks, requiring approximately 5 to 6 treatments with an average relief of 19 weeks per episode of treatment.Conclusions: Therapeutic lumbar facet joint nerve blocks, with or without steroids, may provide a management option for chronic function-limiting low back pain of facet joint origin.     

A controlled trial of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and exercise for chronic low back pain

A number of treatments are widely prescribed for chronic back pain, but few have been rigorously evaluated. We examined the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a program of stretching exercises, or a combination of both for low back pain. Patients with chronic low back pain (median duration, 4.1 years) were randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with TENS (n = 36), sham TENS (n = 36), TENS plus a program of exercises (n = 37), or sham TENS plus exercises (n = 36). After one month no clinically or statistically significant treatment effect of TENS was found on any of 11 indicators of outcome measuring pain, function, and back flexion; there was no interactive effect of TENS with exercise. Overall improvement in pain indicators was 47 percent with TENS and 42 percent with sham TENS (P not significant). The 95 percent confidence intervals for group differences excluded a major clinical benefit of TENS for most outcomes. By contrast, after one month patients in the exercise groups had significant improvement in self-rated pain scores, reduction in the frequency of pain, and greater levels of activity as compared with patients in the groups that did not exercise. The mean reported improvement in pain scores was 52 percent in the exercise groups and 37 percent in the nonexercise groups (P = 0.02). Two months after the active intervention, however, most patients had discontinued the exercises, and the initial improvements were gone. We conclude that for patients with chronic low back pain, treatment with TENS is no more effective than treatment with a placebo, and TENS adds no apparent benefit to that of exercise alone.     

Considering the inferior surface area of lower lumbar vertebrae: determining weight transmission pattern at the lumbosacral junction

The biomechanical function of the lumbosacral junction (LSJ) is obscure, but its medical significance is not, as it is the most common site of low back pain. In this study, we analyzed the difference between the mean values of the surface areas of the inferior body and total inferior facet areas of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. We aimed to define the function of the LSJ during weight transmission and clarify its mechanical significance. Vertebral columns of 45 adult male human cadavers from five anatomy departments in Nigeria were cut at the L3–L4 intervertebral disc and macerated. Using the graph paper method, the mean values of the surface area of the inferior body and total facet area of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae were 1356 ± 26 and 329 ± 6 and 1277 ± 27 and 418 ± 8 mm², respectively. The relationships between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae paired variables were highly significant (P < 0.001). A sudden reduction in the surface area of the inferior body of the fifth lumbar vertebra was compensated for by a corresponding increase in its total inferior facet area, which indicated that corresponding weight was diverted from the anterior column to the posterior column at the LSJ. This pattern of weight transmission may be a beneficial functional adaptation in man to protect the relatively large intervertebral disc of the LSJ in bipedal posture, or it may predispose the LSJ synovial zygapophyseal joints to mechanical stress.     

盐酸氨基葡萄糖联合非类固醇类抗炎药治疗小关节退变伴下腰痛

背景：盐酸葡萄糖胺对骨关节炎的治疗作用在膝关节已经得到证实,然而盐酸氨基葡萄糖与非类固醇类抗炎药物联用的治疗腰背痛鲜有报道。 目的：探讨盐酸氨基葡萄糖与小剂量非类固醇类抗炎药物联用治疗腰椎小关节退变伴下腰痛的临床效果。 方法：纳入35例小关节退变伴下腰痛患者,给予口服盐酸氨基葡萄糖750 mg,2次/d,外加双氯酚酸钠缓释片75 mg,1次/d,周期8周。使用Oswestry残疾指数、目测类比疼痛评分和SF-36量表在治疗前,治疗完成时和完成治疗后8周进行评估。 结果与结论：33例完成最终的随访,男女比例为1∶2,平均(41.2±10.3)岁。经过治疗,患者的腰痛和腿痛症状,腰椎功能和生活质量均有显著改善和提高(P < 0.05)。提示,盐酸氨基葡萄糖与小剂量非类固醇类抗炎药物联用对小关节退变伴腰痛患者有一定治疗作用。     

A herbal medicine used in the treatment of addiction mimics the action of amphetamine on in vitro rat striatal dopamine release

Human low back pain sometimes originates from lumbar facet joints. In human lumbar facet joint inflammation or degeneration, the referred pain is not only expanded into the low back area but also into the leg or foot. The rat L5-L6 facet joint is innervated by the L1-L5 dorsal root ganglia. The presence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-immunoreactive dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating the L5-L6 facet joint has been confirmed, but changes in the number and distribution of these neurons caused by inflammation have not been studied. Of fluorogold-labeled neurons innervating the L5-L6 facet joint, the proportion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-immunoreactive dorsal root ganglion neurons was 16% in the control group and 26% in the inflammatory group. The proportion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-immunoreactive dorsal root ganglion neurons labeled by fluorogold was significantly higher in the inflammatory group than in the control group (P<0.05). The mean cross-sectional area of fluorogold-labeled brain-derived neurotrophic factor-immunoreactive cells increased from 580 to 915 microm(2) in the inflammatory group (P<0.01). Associated with inflammation in facet joints, the increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-immunoreactive neurons and the phenotypic switch to large neurons may induce the expansion of facet joint inflammatory pain.     

腰椎小关节退变的相关因素及生物力学特点

文题释义：腰椎小关节：为相近节段腰椎上位椎体的下关节突与下位椎体的上关节突组成的腰椎后外侧关节,将一个腰椎的椎弓与相邻腰椎的椎弓相连,在腰椎运动中占据着重要的地位。 生物力学：是应用力学原理和方法对生物体中的力学问题定量研究的生物物理学分支,研究范围从生物整体到系统组织,其研究重点是与生理学、医学有关的力学问题。 背景：腰椎小关节退变近年来成为学者们研究的重点,认识腰椎小关节退变的危险因素对于预防以及减少脊柱损害具有关键性作用,并且了解其解剖结构对于治疗脊柱相关疾病及手术实施有着重要的指导意义。 目的：简述腰椎小关节解剖学、组织学特性,总结能够引起腰椎小关节退变的相关危险因素。 方法：利用计算机检索CNKI、万方、维普、PubMed、Elsevier和Web of Science数据库2018年3月至2019年9月有关腰椎小关节退变的文章,检索词为“腰椎小关节,关节囊,关节面方向,神经支配,骨性关节炎,生物力学,下腰痛,椎间盘退变,腰椎滑脱,腰椎退行性脊柱侧弯,lumbar facet joint,joint capsule,articular direction,eneurosis,osteoarthritis,biomechanics,low back pain,intervertebral disc degeneration,umbar spondylolisthesis,lumbar degenerative scoliosis”。查阅相关文章,包括综述、基础研究及临床研究,通过阅读标题及摘要进行初步筛选,排除与主题相关度低的文献,最终共纳入60篇文献进行结果分析。 结果与结论：①腰椎小关节退变的主要危险因素包括年龄、性别、异常应力、关节面方向、关节不对称性、腰椎节段和椎间盘退变;②关节退变后会导致下腰痛、椎间盘退变、腰椎滑脱、退行性脊柱侧弯等临床疾病的发生和发展,严重影响患者的日常生活和工作,降低生活质量。因此,腰椎小关节在脊柱相关疾病的治疗中不应该被忽视。 ORCID: 0000-0002-5700-8674(文王强) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程     

Image-guided facet joint injection

Chronic spine pain poses a peculiar diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to multiple pain sources, overlapping clinical features and nonspecific radiological findings. Facet joint injection is an interventional pain management tool for facet-related spinal pain that can be effectively administered by a radiologist. This technique is the gold standard for identifying facet joints as the source of spinal pain. The major indications for facet injections include strong clinical suspicion of the facet syndrome, focal tenderness over the facet joints, low back pain with normal radiological findings, post-laminectomy syndrome with no evidence of arachnoiditis or recurrent disc disease, and persistent low back pain after spinal fusion. The contraindications are more ancillary, with none being absolute. Like any synovial joint degeneration, inflammation and injury can lead to pain on motion, initiating a vicious cycle of physical deconditioning, irritation of facet innervations and muscle spasm. Image-guided injection of local anesthetic and steroid into or around the facet joint aims to break this vicious cycle and thereby provide pain relief. This outpatient procedure has high diagnostic accuracy, safety and reproducibility but the therapeutic outcome is variable.     

Psychometric characteristics of the Korean version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire

The aims of this study were; 1) to develop the final version of the Korean Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and 2) to compare the responsiveness between the RDQ and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores in patients having low back pain. The psychometric properties of the final Korean RDQ were evaluated in 221 patients. Among them, 30 patients were reliability tested. Validity was evaluated using an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Korean ODI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the RDQ and the ODI was compared in 54 patients with lumbar zygapophyseal (facet) joint pain. There was a moderate relationship between the RDQ and NRS (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) and a strongly positive correlation between the RDQ and the ODI (r = 0.76, P < 0.001). The Korean RDQ with the higher area under the ROC curve showed a better overall responsive performance than did the ODI in patients with lumbar facet joint pain after medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (P < 0.01). The results of the study present the final version of the Korean RDQ is valid for assessing functional status in a Korean population with chronic low back pain.     

基于影像学及计算机图像处理方法研究活体腰椎小关节结构三维分布

目的基于小关节三维重建图像分析软骨下皮质骨厚度、小关节面面积及关节间隙宽度的三维分布情况,研究其结构特点及变化规律,并比较腰痛患者及健康人中这些参数的差别。方法对90名研究对象分别行仰卧位CT扫描,获取L1～S1 5个节段小关节的二维图像,重建后分别获得软骨下皮质骨、小关节面及关节间隙的三维面点云图。研究上述参数在整个关节面上、以及关节面的不同区域的分布特点,比较它们在不同腰椎节段、性别、年龄及症状组中的差异。结果 (1)软骨下皮质骨厚度方面,在上关节突,头端区最厚;在下关节突,尾端区最厚。中央区的厚度明显小于其他各区。各区之间的差别在低位节段腰椎中(L4/5,L5/S1)较明显。(2)小关节平均面积为(173.2±3.6)mm2,且随腰椎节段及年龄的增加而增大,L4/5节段以下及40岁以上更加明显。腰痛患者上关节突关节面的面积明显较下关节突关节面的面积大(L5/S1节段除外)。腰痛患者的小关节面积明显大于健康人。(3)小关节间隙平均宽度为(1.46±0.08)mm,随年龄增加而变窄,40岁以上者更明显,女性均较男性宽,腰痛患者则显著变窄。分区比较时,关节面头侧关节间隙较尾侧间隙宽,中央区的间隙普遍较周围区宽,这些差别在腰痛患者及下3个节段中更明显。结论计算机图像处理及重建分析技术可以较准确的测量三维空间内形状复杂的小关节的相关参数。小关节各结构在三维空间的分布具有一定特点,这些特点与关节面形态、关节间应力及关节退变等因素有关,反映了长期的负荷状态下人体结构的适应性改变。     

腰椎柔韧性及关节突关节退变程度对腰椎植入物内固定效果的影响☆

背景：许多腰椎退行性疾病患者内固定后影像学显示获得了充分的神经减压和良好的内固定植骨融合,却残留或出现顽固下腰痛,疗效并不满意,因此可能还存在许多其他因素影响着疗效。 目的：分析腰椎柔韧性及关节突关节退变程度对腰椎植入物内固定疗效的影响。 方法：随访120例行腰4,5单节段内固定患者,内固定前测量前屈、后伸位腰椎前凸角度的变化作为腰椎柔韧性指标,测量腰3,4关节突关节角,并进行退变程度分级,内固定前和内固定后1年对患者进行Oswestry评分,计算改善率。分析腰椎柔韧性及关节突关节退变对内固定后症状改善率的影响。 结果与结论：腰椎柔韧性与内固定后症状改善率呈正相关。关节突关节退变严重组症状改善率差,关节突关节角不对称组症状改善率较差。因此腰椎柔韧性、关节突关节角对称性和关节突关节退变程度是影响腰椎内固定后疗效的重要因素。     

Two-Year Follow-Up Results of Fluoroscopic Cervical Epidural Injections in Chronic Axial or Discogenic Neck Pain: A Randomized,Double-Blind,Controlled Trial

Study Design: A randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial.Objective: To assess the effectiveness of cervical interlaminar epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroids for the management of axial or discogenic pain in patients without disc herniation, radiculitis, or facet joint pain.Summary of Background Data: Cervical discogenic pain without disc herniation is a common cause of suffering and disability in the adult population. Once conservative management has failed and facet joint pain has been excluded, cervical epidural injections may be considered as a management tool. Despite a paucity of evidence, cervical epidural injections are one of the most commonly performed nonsurgical interventions in the management of chronic axial or disc-related neck pain.Methods: One hundred and twenty patients without disc herniation or radiculitis and negative for facet joint pain as determined by means of controlled diagnostic medial branch blocks were randomly assigned to one of the 2 treatment groups. Group I patients received cervical interlaminar epidural injections of local anesthetic (lidocaine 0.5%, 5 mL), whereas Group II patients received 0.5% lidocaine, 4 mL, mixed with 1 mL or 6 mg of nonparticulate betamethasone.The primary outcome measure was ≥ 50% improvement in pain and function. Outcome assessments included numeric rating scale (NRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), opioid intake, employment, and changes in weight.Results: Significant pain relief and functional improvement (≥ 50%) was present at the end of 2 years in 73% of patients receiving local anesthetic only and 70% receiving local anesthetic with steroids. In the successful group of patients, however, defined as consistent relief with 2 initial injections of at least 3 weeks, significant improvement was illustrated in 78% in the local anesthetic group and 75% in the local anesthetic with steroid group at the end of 2 years. The results reported at the one-year follow-up were sustained at the 2-year follow-up.Conclusions: Cervical interlaminar epidural injections with or without steroids may provide significant improvement in pain and functioning in patients with chronic discogenic or axial pain that is function-limiting and not related to facet joint pain.     

Endoscopic Facet Debridement for the treatment of facet arthritic pain - a novel new technique

Study design: Retrospective, observational, open label.Objective: We investigated the efficacy of facet debridement for the treatment of facet joint pain.Summary of background data: Facet joint disease, often due to degenerative arthritis, is common cause of chronic back pain. In patients that don''t respond to conservative measures, nerve ablation may provide significant improvement. Due to the ability of peripheral nerves to regenerate, ablative techniques of the dorsal nerve roots often provide only temporary relief. In theory, ablation of the nerve end plates in the facet joint capsule should prevent reinnervation.Methods: All patients treated with endoscopic facet debridement at our clinic from 2003-2007 with at least 3 years follow-up were included in the analysis. Primary outcome measure was percent change in facet-related pain as measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score at final follow-up visit.Results: A total of 174 people (77 women, 97 men; mean age 64, range 22-89) were included. Location of facet pain was cervical in 45, thoracic in 15, and lumbar in 114 patients. At final follow-up, 77%, 73%, and 68% of patients with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar disease, respectively, showed at least 50% improvement in pain. Mean operating time per joint was 17 minutes (range, 10-42). Mean blood loss was 40 ml (range, 10-100). Complications included suture failure in two patients, requiring reclosure of the incision. No infection or nerve damage beyond what was intended occurred.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a comparable efficacy of endoscopic facet debridement compared to radiofrequency ablation of the dorsal nerve branch, with durable results. Large scale, randomized trials are warranted to further evaluate the relative efficacy of this surgical treatment in patients with facet joint disease.     

Clinical incidence of sacroiliac joint arthritis and pain after sacropelvic fixation for spinal deformity

Purpose

Sacroiliac fixation using iliac screws for highly unstable lumbar spine has been reported with an improved fusion rate and clinical results. On the other hand, there is a potential for clinical problems related to iliac fixation, including late sacroiliac joint arthritis and pain.

Materials and Methods

Twenty patients were evaluated. Degenerative scoliosis was diagnosed in 7 patients, failed back syndrome in 6 patients, destructive spondyloarthropathy in 4 patients, and Charcot spine in 3 patients. All patients underwent posterolateral fusion surgery incorporating lumbar, S1 and iliac screws. We evaluated the pain scores, bone union, and degeneration of sacroiliac joints by X-ray imaging and computed tomography before and 3 years after surgery. For evaluation of low back and buttock pain from sacroiliac joints 3 years after surgery, lidocaine was administered in order to examine pain relief thereafter.

Results

Pain scores significantly improved after surgery. All patients showed bone union at final follow-up. Degeneration of sacroiliac joints was not seen in the 20 patients 3 years after surgery. Patients showed slight low back and buttock pain 3 years after surgery. However, not all patients showed relief of the low back and buttock pain after injection of lidocaine into the sacroiliac joint, indicating that their pain did not originate from sacroiliac joints.

Conclusion

The fusion rate and clinical results were excellent. Also, degeneration and pain from sacroiliac joints were not seen within 3 years after surgery. We recommend sacroiliac fixation using iliac screws for highly unstable lumbar spine.     

腰椎管内静脉血清中炎性因子与腰椎管狭窄的关系

背景：大量研究表明,局部腰椎管狭窄可导致机体免疫学异常和局部慢性炎症的发生,而慢性炎症才是导致疼痛的主要原因。目前对于炎性因子与腰椎管狭窄症的相关性研究主要集中于椎间盘、小关节及黄韧带上,腰椎管内静脉中炎性因子与腰椎管狭窄的关系尚未见相关报道。 目的：分析腰椎管内静脉血清中白细胞介素1α、肿瘤坏死因子α水平与腰椎管狭窄症的相关性。 方法：选取2011年9月至2013年12月上海市同济大学附属东方医院脊柱外科接受腰椎后路椎板切除减压治疗的腰椎管狭窄症及腰椎爆裂性骨折患者,共51例,评估治疗前腰腿痛目测类比评分及Oswestry功能障碍指数。收集退变性腰椎管狭窄症及腰椎爆裂性骨折患者外周静脉及椎管内静脉血,酶联免疫吸附剂法测定血清中白细胞介素1α及肿瘤坏死因子α水平。 结果与结论：退变性腰椎管狭窄症组椎管内静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平显著高于腰椎爆裂性骨折组,退变性腰椎管狭窄症组椎管内静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平显著高于外周静脉,差异均有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。退变性腰椎管狭窄症组腰椎管狭窄节段越多,静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平越高,但统计学差异不显著。线性相关分析显示,退变性腰椎管狭窄症组椎管内静脉血清白细胞介素1α水平与腰腿痛及功能障碍评分呈显著正相关(r²=0.359 3,P < 0.05;r²=0.526 4,P < 0.05)。提示腰椎管内静脉中炎性因子可能是导致退变性腰椎管狭窄患者腰腿痛及功能障碍的原因之一。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程全文链接：     

负极性静电荷-聚四氟乙烯高分子体膜联合腰椎牵引治疗根性腰痛

背景：负极性静电荷高分子材料、聚四氟乙烯微孔驻极体膜贴于患处表面,可形成高压静电和负静电场,中和患病局部聚集的正电荷。 目的：验证负极性静电荷-聚四氟乙烯高分子体膜联合腰椎牵引治疗根性腰痛的临床效果。 方法：将120例根性腰痛患者随机分为3组：牵引组、负极性静电荷-聚四氟乙烯高分子体膜组(简称体膜组)和结合组。结合组患者联合上述两种方法治疗。治疗1个月后,通过日本矫形外科学会(JOA)评分评估治疗效果。 结果与结论：治疗1个月后3组患者JOA评分为：结合组> 牵引组> 体膜组,差异均有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。结合组患者腰痛改善指数、改善率明显高于与其他两组。提示负极性静电荷-聚四氟乙烯高分子体膜联合腰椎牵引治疗根性腰痛效果好于单纯牵引或负极性静电荷-聚四氟乙烯高分子体膜治疗。     

Fluoroscopic Caudal Epidural Injections in Managing Post Lumbar Surgery Syndrome: Two-Year Results of a Randomized,Double-Blind,Active-Control Trial

Study Design: A randomized, active control, double-blind trial. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of fluoroscopically directed caudal epidural injections with or without steroids in managing chronic low back and lower extremity pain secondary to post lumbar surgery syndrome. Summary of Background Data: There is a paucity of evidence concerning caudal epidural injections for managing chronic persistent low back pain with or without lower extremity pain caused by post lumbar surgery syndrome.Methods: This active control randomized study included 140 patients with 70 patients in each group. Group I received 0.5% lidocaine, 10 mL; Group II received 9 mL of 0.5% lidocaine mixed with 1 mL of 6 mg of nonparticulate betamethasone. The multiple outcome measures included the numeric rating scale, the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0, employment status, and opioid intake with assessments at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months posttreatment. Primary outcome was defined as at least 50% improvement in pain and Oswestry Disability Index scores. Patients with a positive response to the first 2 procedures with at least 3 weeks of relief were considered to be successful. All others were considered as failures.Results: Overall in Group I, 53% and 47% of the patients and in Group II, 59% and 58% of the patients, showed significant improvement with reduction in pain scores and disability index at 12 months and 24 months. In contrast, in the successful groups, significant pain relief and improvement in function were observed in 70% and 62% of Group I at one and 2 years; in 75% and 69% of Group II at one and 2 years. The results in the successful group showed that at the end of the first year patients experienced approximately 38 weeks of relief and at the end of 2 years Group I had 62 weeks and Group II had 68 weeks of relief. Overall total relief for 2 years was 48 weeks in Group I and 54 weeks in Group II. The average procedures in the successful groups were at 4 in one year and 6 at the end of 2 years.Conclusion: Caudal epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroid might be effective in patients with chronic persistent low back and/or lower extremity pain in patients with post lumbar surgery syndrome.     

CT多平面重建预评估腰椎经皮椎弓根螺钉置入损伤关节突关节的风险

文题释义：CT多平面重组技术：是将扫描范围内所有的轴位图像叠加起来在对某些标线标定的重组线所指定的组织进行冠状位、矢状位及任意角度斜位图像重组,以在不同角度观察影像学图像。 经皮椎弓根螺钉：该技术采用在术中影像检查设备引导下经皮肤小切口置入椎弓根螺钉,与常规开放置钉手术相比明显减少了对椎旁肌的损伤程度,既往学者多关注螺钉与椎弓根壁的位置关系,而较少关注其与关节突关节的位置关系。 背景：经皮椎弓根螺钉内固定技术被广泛应用于治疗腰椎疾病。经皮椎弓根螺钉由于是在术中C形臂X射线引导下操作,对螺钉与关节突关节之间的位置关系难以完全控制,可能导致关节突关节损伤。既往有学者认为体质量指数>29.9 kg/m²、小关节角>35°及年龄<65岁是经皮椎弓根螺钉损伤关节突关节的高危因素。由于不同腰椎椎弓根轴线与关节突关节的位置关系不同,螺钉对关节突关节的破坏是否存在差异目前尚无相关报道。 目的：探讨腰椎CT多平面重建技术在腰椎经皮椎弓根钉置入术前预估螺钉损伤腰椎关节突关节中的价值。 方法：选择100例行经皮椎弓根钉置入内固定治疗腰椎骨折及腰椎退行性疾病的患者,对治疗方案均知情同意,且得到医院伦理委员会批准。于术前CT斜轴位、斜矢状位及斜冠状位调整多平面重建的定位线,重建出椎弓根的切面断层,以斜冠状位线为中心设置直径为6.5 mm的标定圆模拟经皮椎弓根钉轴向截面,观察标定圆侵犯关节突关节程度,设为术前组;术后行腰椎CT检查观察螺钉损伤关节突关节程度,设为术后组。评价2组间不同节段关节突关节损伤螺钉数及组内不同节段关节突关节破坏比率的差异。 结果与结论：①共计置钉478枚,术前组显示标定圆侵犯关节突关节109枚,占比22.8%,其中L₁-L₅标定圆侵犯关节突关节螺钉数及占比分别为6枚(6.8%)、9枚(10.5%)、19枚(18.3%)、30枚(30.0%)和45枚(45.0%);②术后组显示关节突关节损伤115枚,占比24.1%,其中L₁-L₅螺钉损伤关节突关节螺钉数及占比分别为10枚(11.4%)、7枚(8.1%)、15枚(14.4%)、26枚(26.0%)和41枚(41.0%);③McNemar 配对χ²检验不同腰椎节段P值分别为：L₁ P=0.08,L₂ P=0.22,L₃ P=0.20,L₄ P=0.05,L₅ P=0.08,2组结果比较差异均无显著性意义;④Kappa检验2组一致性分别为：L₁ Kappa值=0.67,L₂ Kappa值=0.80,L₃ Kappa值=0.80,L₄ Kappa值=0.87,L₅ Kappa值=0.92;术前组及术后组组内不同节段间关节突关节损伤比率比较差异有显著性意义(P=0.000);⑤提示腰椎CT多平面重建技术可较为准确地判断经皮椎弓根螺钉与关节突关节的位置关系,为判断术后螺钉是否可能侵犯关节突关节提供了一种可靠的预估方法。 ORCID: 0000-0003-4872-2726(张晓芸) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程     

Paraspinal abscess communicated with epidural abscess after extra-articular facet joint injection

Facet joint injection is considered to be a safe procedure. There have been some reported cases of facet joint pyogenic infection and also 3 cases of facet joint infection spreading to paraspinal muscle and epidural space due to intra-articular injections. To the author's knowledge, paraspinal and epidural abscesses after facet joint injection without facet joint pyogenic infection have not been reported. Here we report a case in which extra-articular facet joint injection resulted in paraspinal and epidural abscesses without facet joint infection. A 50-year-old man presenting with acute back pain and fever was admitted to the hospital. He had the history of diabetes mellitus and had undergone the extra-articular facet joint injection due to a facet joint syndrome diagnosis at a private clinic 5 days earlier. Physical examination showed tenderness over the paraspinal region. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) demonstrated the paraspinal abscess around the fourth and fifth spinous processes with an additional epidural abscess compressing the thecal sac. The facet joints were preserved. The laboratory results showed a white blood cell count of 14.9 x 10(9) per liter, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 52 mm/hour, and 10.88 mg/dL of C-reactive protein. Laminectomy and drainage were performed. The pus was found in the paraspinal muscles, which was communicated with the epidural space through a hole in the ligamentum flavum. Cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus. Paraspinal abscess communicated with epidural abscess is a rare complication of extra-articular facet joint injection demonstrating an abscess formation after an invasive procedure near the spine is highly possible.     

Association of rudimentary sacral zygapophyseal facets and accessory and ligamentous articulations: Implications for load transmission at the L5‐S1 junction

Weight transmitted from the fifth lumbar vertebrae to the sacrum is distributed as three separate components between (a) the vertebral bodies anteriorly, (b) the transverse elements intermediately, and (c) the lumbosacral facet joints, posteriorly. The posterior components of the fifth lumbar vertebra share greater proportion of load in comparison with the posterior elements of the upper lumbar vertebral levels. This study focuses on rudimentary lumbosacral facet articulations and their possible effects on load sharing at this region. Twenty sacra bearing rudimentary articulations were collected for analysis. Sixteen of these sacra presented unilateral rudimentary facets, and the remaining four had facets that were bilaterally rudimentary. Thirteen of the sacra with unilateral rudimentary facets showed an accessory articulating area on the upper surface of the ala on the same side as the rudimentary zygapophyseal facet. The remaining three sacra (out of the 16) showed evidence of strong ligamentous attachments between the L5 and S1 transverse elements on the sides of the rudimentary facets. All the sacra with bilateral rudimentary facets demonstrated bilateral accessory L5–S1 articulations. These observations indicated that load transmission at lumbosacral junctions bearing a rudimentary facet joint is not normal and that their associations with strong L5–S1 lumbosacral ligamentous attachments or accessory articulations at the transverse elements serve a compensatory mechanism for load sharing. Clin. Anat. 23:707–711, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.