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Lumbar spine pain originating from vertebral osteophytes
1Division of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
|August 13, 1999
Summary
Vertebral osteophytes can cause axial spine pain. Injecting these bone spurs with anesthetic and corticosteroid provided pain relief for all patients in this study.
Area of Science:
- Spine medicine
- Pain management
- Radiology
Background:
- Axial spine pain has multiple potential sources, including facet joints, intervertebral discs, and sacroiliac joints.
- Lumbar vertebral osteophytes, bony growths near intervertebral discs, are a potential cause of nociceptive low back pain.
Observation:
- Five patients with chronic axial low back pain, unresponsive to conventional treatments, were included in the study.
- Interventions involved fluoroscopic-guided injections of local anesthetic and corticosteroid near prominent intervertebral osteophytes.
Findings:
- All five patients reported significant pain relief following the targeted injections.
- The procedure demonstrated a positive response in all participants, suggesting efficacy.
Implications:
- Vertebral osteophytes may serve as a significant source of axial spine pain.
- Targeted injections of anesthetic and corticosteroid into symptomatic osteophytes represent a viable treatment option for refractory low back pain.