Thoracic costotransverse joint pain patterns: a study in normal volunteers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pain referral patterns of asymptomatic costotransverse joints have not been established. The objective of this study was to determine the pain referral patterns of asymptomatic costotransverse joints via provocative intra-articular injection.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight asymptomatic male volunteers received a combined total of 21 intra-articular costotransverse joint injections. Fluoroscopic imaging was used to identify and isolate each costotransverse joint and guide placement of a 25 gauge, 2.5 inch spinal needle into the costotransverse joint. Following contrast medium injection, the quality, intensity, and distribution of the resultant pain produced were recorded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 21 costotransverse joint injections, 16 (76%) were classified as being intra-articular via arthrograms taken at the time of injection, and 14 of these injections produced a pain sensation distinctly different from that of needle placement. Average pain produced was 3.3/10 on a 0–10 verbal pain scale. Pain was described generally as a deep, dull ache, and pressure sensation. Pain patterns were located superficial to the injected joint, with only the right T2 injections showing referred pain 2 segments cranially and caudally. No chest wall, upper extremity or pseudovisceral pains were reported.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study provides preliminary data of the pain referral patterns of costotransverse joints. Further research is needed to compare these findings with those elicited from symptomatic subjects.</p

Avaliação clínica da infiltração facetaria no tratamento da dor lombar crônica por síndrome facetaria: estudo prospectivo Evaluación clínica de la infiltración de las facetas en el tratamiento del dolor crónico de espalda baja por el síndrome de faceta síndrome: estudio prospectivo Clinical evaluation of the lumbar facet joint blocks in treatment of chronic low back pain: a prospective study

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados do bloqueio facetário lombar com anestésico local e corticóide em pacientes com lombalgia crônica por síndrome facetária. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo prospectivo em 30 pacientes com lombalgia crônica por síndrome facetária, os quais foram submetidos à infiltração facetária com bupivacaína a 0,25% e acetato de metilpredinisolona sob controle radioscópico, e foram seguidos e avaliados seguindo as escalas Visual Analógica da Dor, Oswestry Disability Index e os Critérios de MacNab nos quais 17 foram do sexo feminino e 13 do sexo masculino. RESULTADOS: Foi observada diminuição significativa (p<0,05) da dor pela Escala Visual Analógica. Obtivemos 73,3% de resultados satisfatórios na primeira semana, 63,3% no primeiro mês, 43,3% em 3 meses, e 36,6% no final de 6 meses. O índice de complicações foi muito baixo. CONCLUSÃO: O bloqueio facetário utilizando corticóide e anestésico local se mostrou-se efetivo, seguro e de fácil realização. No entanto houve recidiva em mais de 50% dos casos dentro de 6 meses.<br>OBJETIVO: Evaluar los resultados del bloqueo facetario lumbar, con anestésico local y corticoide, en pacientes con dorsalgia crónica por síndrome facetario. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo en 30 pacientes, 17 del sexo femenino y 13 del sexo masculino, con dorsalgia crónica por síndrome facetario, quienes fueron sometidos a la infiltración facetaria con bupivacaína a 0,25% y acetato de metilpredinisolona bajo control radioscópico, y fueron acompañados y evaluados siguiendo las escalas Visual Analógica del Dolor, Oswestry Disability Index y los Criterios de MacNab. RESULTADOS: Se observó una disminución significativa (p<0,05) del dolor según la Escala Visual Analógica del Dolor. Obtuvimos 73,3% de resultados satisfactorios en la primera semana, 63,3% en el primer mes, 43,3% en 3 meses, y 36,6% al final de 6 meses. El índice de complicaciones fue muy bajo. CONCLUSIÓN: El bloqueo facetario, utilizando corticoide y anestésico local, se mostró eficaz, seguro y de fácil realización, no obstante, con recidiva en la mayor parte de los casos dentro de 6 meses.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the lumbar facet block with local anesthetics and corticosteroids in patients with chronic low back pain of facet joint origin. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on 30 patients with chronic low back pain in facet syndrome who underwent facet infiltration with bupivacaine 0.25% and methylprednisolone acetate under radioscopic control; the subjects were followed and evaluated following the Visual Analogue Scale of Pain , Oswestry Disability Index and MacNab criteria; 17 of them were female and 13 male. RESULTS: Reduction of pain was found by Visual Analogue Scale significant (p <0.05). We obtained 73.3% of satisfactory results in the first week, 63.3% in the first month, 43.3% in third months, and 36.6% at the end of 6 months. The complication rate was very low. CONCLUSION: Facet blocka using local anesthetic and steroid was effective, safe and easy to perform. Neverthelees, there was recurrence of most cases within six months