Interventional therapy for chronic low back pain

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2012;55(6):562-570
Publication date (electronic) : 2012 June 14
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2012.55.6.562
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Deajeon, Korea.
Corresponding author: Yoon Hee Kim, yhkim0404@cnu.ac.kr
Received 2012 April 12; Accepted 2012 April 26.

Abstract

Chronic low back pain has become a major public health problem in Korea. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain has been reported to be as high as 90%. The prevalences of discogenic pain, facet joint pain, and sacroiliac joint pain are 42%, 30%, and 18%, respectively. Increasing age is associated with a decreasing probability of discogenic pain but increasing probabilities of facet joint pain and sacroiliac joint pain as the source of low back pain. Physical examination of low back pain is limited and imaging may lack objective clues. Diagnostic interventions allow us to determine the etiology of back pain. Techniques include lumbar disc stimulation, facet joint block, medial branch block, and sacroilliac joint block. Initial therapy includes modification of activity, pharmacological analgesic therapy, and education of patients. In patients with chronic low back pain, a multimodal and interdisciplinary treatment approach is necessary. Use of interventional treatments for chronic low back pain are increasing but their utilization remains uncertain or controversial. Therefore, management of patients with chronic and disabling low back pain remains a clinical challenge.

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Article information Continued

Table 1

"Red flag" indication of serious spinal pathology

Table 1

Table 2

Discography endpoints

Table 2

VAS, visual analogue pain score.

Table 3

Gradation of the radial fissures visible on CT discography (Dallas scale)

Table 3

CT, computed tomography.