PM&R
Volume 1, Issue 10 , Pages 964-972 , October 2009

Debating “Interventions” for Chronic Axial Low Back Pain

  • Erik S. Brand, MD, MSc (Guest Discussant)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD‡
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: E.S.B.
    • ,
  • Paul Ky, DO (Guest Discussant)

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD§
    • ,
  • Paul J. Christo, MD, MBA (Guest Discussant)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pain Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • ,
  • Christopher J. Standaert, MD (Guest Discussant)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, UW Sports and Spine, Seattle, WA∥
    • ,
  • Venu Akuthota, MD (Senior Editor)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, PO Box 6511, Mail Stop F-493, Aurora, CO#
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: V.A.

References 

    Drs. Erik S. Brand, Paul Ky, and Paul J. Christo Respond
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  4. (focus issue)  Haldeman S,  Dagenais SLow back pain. Spine J. 2008;8:
  5. Mirza SK, Deyo RA. Review of randomized trials comparing lumbar fusion surgery to nonoperative care for treatment of chronic back pain. Spine. 2007;32:816–823
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  8. Manchikanti L, Rivera JJ, Pampati V, et al. One day lumbar epidural adhesiolysis and hypertonic saline neurolysis in treatment of chronic low back pain: a randomized, double-blind trial. Pain Physician. 2004;7:177–186
  9. Manchikanti L, Pampati V, Rivera JJ, Beyer C, Damron KS, Barnhill RC. Caudal epidural injections with sarapin or steroids in chronic low back pain. Pain Physician. 2001;4:322–335
  10. Vad VB, Bhat AL, Lutz GE, Cammisa F. Transforaminal epidural steroid injections in lumbosacral radiculopathy: A prospective randomized study. Spine. 2002;27:11–16
  11. Spratt KF, Weinstein JN, Lehmann TR, et al. Efficacy of flexion and extension treatments incorporating braces for low-back pain patients with retrodisplacement, spondylolisthesis, or normal sagittal translation. Spine. 1993;18:1839–1849
  12. Simpson RK, Edmondson EA, Constant CF, Collier C. Transdermal fentanyl as treatment for chronic low back pain. J Pain Symptom Manage. 1997;14:218–224
  13. Patients Like Me (Epidural Steroid Injection Treatment Evaluations). http://www.patientslikeme.com/treatment_evaluations/summary/5189-epidural-steroid-injection+adherence+epidural+steroid+injection&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=usAccessed September 23, 2009
  14. Boswell MV, Trescot AM, Datta S, et al. American Society of International Pain Physicians Interventional techniques: Evidence-based practice guidelines in the management of chronic spinal pain. Pain Physician. 2007;10:7–111
  15. Akuthota V, Argoff C, Watters WC. Interpreting reviews and guidelines: The case of lumbar epidural steroid injections. PM&R. 2009;1:576–579
  16. Friedly J, Chan L, Devo R. Increases in lumbosacral injections in the Medicare population: 1994 to 2001. Spine. 2007;32:1754–1760
  17. Saul JS. General principles of diagnostic testing as related to painful lumbar spine disorders: A critical appraisal of current diagnostic techniques. Spine. 2002;27:2538–2545discussion 2546
  18. Cohen SP, Raja SN. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of lumbar zygapophysial (facet) joint pain. Anesthesiology. 2007;106:591–614
  19. Boswell MV, Colson JD, Sehgal N, Dunbar EE, Epter R. A systematic review of therapeutic facet joint interventions in chronic spinal pain. Pain Physician. 2007;10:229–253
  20. Dolan AL, Ryan PJ, Arden NK, et al. The value of SPECT scans in identifying back pain likely to benefit from facet joint injection. Br J Rheumatol. 1996;35:1269–1273
  21. Pneumaticos SG, Chatziioannou SN, Hipp JA, Moore WH, Esses SI. Low back pain: Prediction of short-term outcome of facet joint injection with bone scintigraphy. Radiology. 2006;238:693–698
  22. Holder LE, Machin JL, Asdourian PL, Links JM, Sexton CC. Planar and high-resolution SPECT bone imaging in the diagnosis of facet syndrome. J Nucl Med. 1995;36:37–44
  23. Long DM, BenDebba M, Torgerson WS, et al. Persistent back pain and sciatica in the United States: Patient characteristics. J Spinal Disord. 1996;9:40–58
  24. Murtagh FR. Computed tomography and fluoroscopy guided anesthesia and steroid injection in facet syndrome. Spine. 1988;13:686–689
  25. Destouet JM, Gilula LA, Murphy WA, Monsees B. Lumbar facet joint injection: indication, technique, clinical correlation, and preliminary results. Radiology. 1982;145:321–325
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  27. Lewinnek GE, Warfield CA. Facet joint degeneration as a cause of low back pain. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1986;213:216–222
  28. Carrera GF, Williams AL. Current concepts in evaluation of the lumbar facet joints. Crit Rev Diagn Imaging. 1984;21:85–104
  29. Lippitt AB. The facet joint and its role in spine pain (Management with facet joint injections). Spine. 1984;9:746–750
  30. Fuchs S, Erbe T, Fischer HL, Tibesku CO. Intraarticular hyaluronic acid versus glucocorticoid injections for nonradicular pain in the lumbar spine. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2005;16:1493–1498
  31. Carette S, Marcoux S, Truchon R, et al. A controlled trial of corticosteroid injections into facet joints for chronic low back pain. N Engl J Med. 1991;325:1002–1007
  32. Lilius G, Laasonen EM, Myllynen P, Harilainen A, Gronlund G. Lumbar facet joint syndrome (A randomised clinical trial). J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1989;71:681–684
  33. Fairbank JC, Park WM, McCall IW, O'Brien JP. Apophyseal injection of local anesthetic as a diagnostic aid in primary low-back pain syndromes. Spine. 1981;6:598–605
  34. van Boxem K, van Eerd M, Brinkhuize T, Patijn J, van Kleef M, van Zundert J. Radiofrequency and pulsed radiofrequency treatment of chronic pain syndromes: The available evidence. Pain Pract. 2008;8:385–393
  35. Schofferman J, Kine G. Effectiveness of repeated radiofrequency neurotomy for lumbar facet pain. (review) Spine. 2004;29:2471–2473
  36. Levy MB, Hoskins GW. Developments in managed care liability. DBCA Brief: Journal of the DuPage County Bar Association. January 2000;
  37. Emanual EJ, Emanuel LL. Four models of the physician-patient relationship. JAMA. 1992;267:2221–2226
  38. American Medical Association CPT calculator based on the 2009 Physician Payment Schedule using RVU (relative value units) and location. https://catalog.ama-assn.org/Catalog/cpt/cpt_search.jspAccessed September 23, 2009
  39. Quiroga H. Calculate pain and suffering the right way and settle your car accident. http://ezinearticles.com/?Calculate-Pain-And-Suffering-The-Right-Way-And-Settle-Your-Car-Accident&id=795006Accessed September 23, 2009
  40. Polly DW, Glassman SD, Schwender JD, et al. Lumbar Spine Study Group SF-36 PCS benefit-cost ratio of lumbar fusion comparison to other surgical interventions: A thought experiment. Spine. 2007;32(11 Suppl):S20–S26
    Dr. Standaert Responds
  1. Jarvik JJ, Hollingworth W, Heagerty P, Haynor DR, Deyo RA. The Longitudinal Assessment of Imaging and Disability of the Back (LAIDBack) Study: Baseline data. Spine. 2001;26:1158–1166
  2. Linton SJ. A review of psychosocial risk factors in back and neck pain. Spine. 2000;25:1148–1156
  3. Valat JP, Goupille P, Vedere V. Low back pain: Risk factors for chronicity. Rev Rheum. 1997;64:189–194
  4. van der Giezen AM, Bouter LM, Nijhuis FJN. Prediction of return-to-work of low back pain patients sicklisted 3-4 months. Pain. 2000;87:285–294
  5. Dreyfuss P, Halbrook B, Pauza K, Joshi A, McLarty J, Bogduk N. Efficacy and validity of radiofrequency neurotomy for chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain. Spine. 2000;25:1270–1277
  6. Staal JB, de Bie R, de Vet HC, Hildebrandt J, Nelemans P. Injection therapy for subacute and chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. 2008;(3):July 16:CD001824
  7. DePalma MJ, Slipman CW. Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with epidural steroid injections. Spine J. 2008;8:45–55
  8. Bogduk N. Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with facet injections and radiofrequency neurotomy. Spine J. 2008;8:56–64
  9. Armon C, Argoff CE, Samuels J, Backonja M. Assessment: Use of epidural steroid injections to treat radicular lumbosacral pain. Neurology. 2007;68:723–729
  10. Price C, Arden N, Coglan L, Rogers P. Cost-effectiveness and safety of epidural steroids in the management of sciatica. Health Technol Assess. 2005;9:1–58
  11. Manchikanti L, Singh V, Pampati V, Smith HS, Hirsch J. Analysis of growth of interventional techniques in managing chronic pain in the Medicare population: A 10-year evaluation from 1997 to 2006. Pain Physician. 2009;12:9–34
  12. Friedly J, Chan L, Deyo R. Increases in lumbosacral injections in the Medicare population: 1994 to 2001. Spine. 2007;32:1754–1760
  13. Office of the Inspector General. OEI-05-07-00200. http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-05-07-00200.pdfAccessed June 28, 2009
  14. Martin BI, Deyo RA, Mirza SK, et al. Expenditures and health status among adults with back and neck problems. JAMA. 2008;299:656–664
  15. Friedly J, Chan L, Deyo R. Geographic variation in epidural steroid injection use in Medicare patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90:1730–1737
  16. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Physician Quality and Efficiency: Before The House Ways And Means Subcommittee On Health. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/testimony.asp?Counter=2181&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=7&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=false&cboOrder=dateAccessed June 28, 2009
  17. Cairns MC, Foster NE, Wright C. Randomized controlled trial of specific spinal stabilization exercises and conventional physiotherapy for recurrent low back pain. Spine. 2006;31:E670–E681
  18. Standaert CJ, Weinstein SM, Rumpeltes J. Evidence-informed management of chronic low back pain with lumbar stabilization exercises. Spine J. 2008;9:114–120
  19. Smeets RJ, Vlaeyen JW, Kester AD, Knottnerus JA. Reduction of pain catastrophizing mediates the outcome of both physical and cognitive-behavioral treatment in chronic low back pain. J Pain. 2006;7:261–271
    Drs. Brand, Ky, and Christo Rebut
  1. Staal JB, de Bie R, de Vet HC, Hildebrandt J, Nelemans P. Injection therapy for subacute and chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. 2008;July 16(3):CD001824
  2. Boxem KV, Zundert JV, van Kleef M. Re: Staal JB, de Bie R, de Vet HC, et al: Injection therapy for subacute and chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;CD001824 Spine. 2009;34:1628–1629author reply 1629
  3. Friedly J, Chan L, Deyo R. Increases in lumbosacral injections in the Medicare population: 1994 to 2001. Spine. 2007;32:1754–1760
  4. Manchikanti L, Singh V, Pampati V, Smith HS, Hirsch JA. Analysis of growth of interventional techniques in managing chronic pain in the Medicare population: A 10-year evaluation from 1997 to 2006. Pain Physician. 2009;12:9–34
  5. Office of the Inspector General. OEI-05-07-00200 http://oig.hhs.govAccessed June 28, 2009
  6. Manchikanti L, Boswell MV, Singh V, et al. Comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for interventional techniques in the management of chronic spinal pain. Pain Physician. 2009;12:E71–E120
  7. American College of Sports Medicine. http://www.exerciseismedicine.orgAccessed September 23, 2009
    Dr. Standaert Rebuts
  1. Niemisto L, Kalso E, Malmivaara A, Seitsalo S, Hurri H. Radiofrequency denervation for neck and back pain: A systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration back review group. Spine. 2003;28:1877–1888
  2. Slipman CW, Bhat AL, Gilchrist RV, Issac Z, Chou L, Lenrow DA. A critical review of the evidence for the use of zygapophyseal injections and radiofrequency denervation in the treatment of low back pain. Spine J. 2003;3:310–316
  3. Chou R, Atlas SJ, Stanos SP, Rosenquist RW. Nonsurgical interventional therapies for low back pain (A review of the evidence for an American pain society clinical practice guideline). Spine. 2009;34:1078–1093
  4. Nath S, Nath CA, Pettersson K. Percutaneous lumbar zygapophysial (facet) joint neurotomy using radiofrequency current, in the management of chronic low back pain: A randomized double-blind trial. Spine. 2008;33:1291–1297
  5. Dreyfuss P, Halbrook B, Pauza K, Joshi A, McLarty J, Bogduk N. Efficacy and validity of radiofrequency neurotomy for chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain. Spine. 2000;25:1270–1277
  6. Linton SJ. A review of psychosocial risk factors in back and neck pain. Spine. 2000;25:1148–1156
  7. Pincus T, Burton AK, Vogel S, et al. A systematic review of psychosocial factors as predictors of chronicity/disability in prospective cohorts of low back pain. Spine. 2002;27:E109–E120
  8. Carroll LJ, Cassidy JD, Côté P. Depression as a risk factor for onset of an episode of troublesome neck and low back pain. Pain. 2004;107:134–139

PII: S1934-1482(09)01370-7

doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2009.09.014

PM&R
Volume 1, Issue 10 , Pages 964-972 , October 2009

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