ABSTRACT

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic importance, duration of efficacy and the early, middle and late clinical efficacy of intra-articular facet joint injection for patients with chronic lower back pain.

Material and Methods:

Ninety-one patients who had had chronic lower back pain for more than six months were selected for facet joint injection. The patients were divided into two groups by lumbar CT based on degenerated (group 1) or normal (group 2) facet joint imaging. Group 1 consisted of 54 patients with facet joint degeneration, and Group 2 consisted of 37 patients with no facet joint abnormality. The age of the 54 patients in Group 1 (30 female, 24 male) was between 21 and 71 (mean: 43.56). The age of the 37 patients in Group 2 (21 female, 16 male) was between 21 and 58 (mean: 39.24). All facet joint injections were done under a fluoroscope.

The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain relief before injection, and one week and one, three and six months after injection. An inquiry was performed to determine whether the patients were satisfied and would repeat the process.

Results:

There was a statistically significant difference in the VAS values before and after treatment for Group 1 (p<0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference for the VAS values before and after treatment for Group 2 (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between groups 1 and 2 (p>0.05).

Conclusion:

Facet joint injection reduces pain for patients with chronic lower back pain. As a minimally invasive, reliable, and cost-effective method that reduces the workforce loss of patients, we advise this procedure as an alternative treatment for patients with lower back pain.