Ultrasound-Guided Diagnostic Block and Radiofrequency Ablation Technique for Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

1 Department Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and RehabilitationFaculty of Medicine, Benha University

2 Professor of Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Benha University

3 Professor of Anaesthesia and Pain Management Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University

4 Professor of Rheumatology, Ass. Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Benha University

5 EULAR certified MSUS trainer, Scientefic Director of the Egyptian School for Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (EgySMUS), President of the Egyptian Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular Sonography (ESMNS)

Abstract

Background: Sacroiliac Joint pain is among the most prevalent causes of low back pain that must be distinguished from other types of LBP. Treatment of sacroiliac pain could be obtained by many methods involving intraarticular steroid injection or pulsed radiofrequency. Objectives: This study purposed to determine Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency ablation technique influence and to compare its efficacy with local steroid injection for Sacroiliac pain. Study Design: A clinical comparative study. Methods: Number of 20 patients were randomly allocated in two groups. Group I was subjected to pulsed intraarticular PRFA and group II was subjected to intraarticular steroid injection ultrasounded-guided. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) II and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were measured before intervention and on follow up immediately post intervention, 1, 3 and 6 weeks later. Results: Patients who received pulsed intraarticular RFA showed decreased pain after therapy with an average of mean ± SD of 3.5 ± 0.53 immediately post and from 4 - 6 with a mean ± SD of 4.9 ± 0.88 six weeks after. Following therapy, patients who received SIJ intraarticular steroid injection reported, on average, less discomfort of 3.5 ± 0.53 immediately post and from 5 - 7 with a mean ± SD of 5.8 ± 0.63 six weeks after. Conclusions: SIJ intraarticular steroid injections and SIJ pulsed RFA ,both provided considerable pain reduction in SIJ-afflicted individuals. SIJ pulsed RFA offered longer-lasting pain alleviation and a substantial decrease in the ODI.

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