Effectiveness of Thoracic Facet Joint Nerve Blocks

Participants Study participants were recruited at the interventional pain management practice from consecutive new patients presenting with thoracic pain. One hundred patients were included and randomly assigned to one of 2 groups; either a local anesthetic only group (Group I) or a local anesthetic with steroid group (Group II), with 50 patients in each group. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were eligible to undergo diagnostic thoracic facet joint nerve blocks. Only patients positive for controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks met the criteria for inclusion for thoracic medial branch blocks.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Only patients with nonspecific mid-back or upper back pain without suspected disc herniation, radiculitis, thoracic fracture, stenosis, or intercostal neuritis were included. Further, patients suspected of disc-related pain with radicular symptoms were also excluded, based on radiologic testing and symptomatology involving radicular or chest wall pain. Patients also should have previously received conservative management with physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation exercises, drug therapy, and bed rest, and so forth, but continued to have pain.

Further inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of thoracic facet joint pain by means of controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks; patients who were over 18 years of age; patients with a history of chronic function-limiting mid-back or upper back pain of at least 6 months duration; and patients who where competent to understand the study protocol and provide voluntary, written informed consent, and participate in the outcome measurements. A negative or false-positive response to controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks, uncontrollable to heavy opioid use (morphine equivalent of 300 mg), uncontrolled

Inclusion criteria

Positive for facet joint pain with comparative local anesthetic blocks

Candidates are over 18 years of age

Subjects with a history of chronic, function limiting neck pain of at least six months in duration Subjects who are able to give voluntary, written informed consent to participate in this investigation Subjects who, in the opinion of the Investigator, are able to understand this investigation, co-operate with the investigational procedures and are willing to return to the center for all the required post-operative follow-ups The subject has not had recent surgical procedures within the last three months.

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Exclusion criteria

• Negative or false-positive response to controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks

Narcotic use of greater than Hydrocodone 100 mg/day, Methadone 80 mg or Morphine 100 mg, or dose equivalent

Uncontrolled major Depression or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders

Uncontrolled or acute medical illnesses including coagulopathy, renal insufficiency, chronic liver dysfunction, progressive neurological deficit, urinary sphincter dysfunction, infection, increased intercranial pressure, pseudotumor cerebri, intercranial tumors, unstable angina, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic severe conditions that could interfere with the interpretations of the outcome assessments for pain and bodily function

Women who are pregnant or lactating

Subjects who have participated in a clinical study with an investigational product within 30 days of enrollment

Patients with multiple complaints involving concomitant hip osteoarthritis, will not be amenable to study due to the overlap of pain complaints.

Inability to achieve appropriate positioning and inability to understand informed consent and protocol History of adverse reaction to local anesthetic or anti-inflammatory drugs