Outcomes of C1-2 joint injections

Area of Science:

• Pain Medicine
• Interventional Pain Management
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Intra-articular injections targeting the C1-2 joint offer therapeutic benefits for degenerative and inflammatory joint pain.
• Existing literature provides limited data on the adverse events (AEs) associated with C1-2 joint injections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency and types of AEs following C1-2 joint injections.
• To identify clinical factors associated with the occurrence of AEs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of C1-2 joint injections performed between January 1, 2005, and July 31, 2015.
• Extraction of AE data from clinical notes and analysis using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Main Results:

• 135 C1-2 injections were analyzed from 72 patients.
• At least one AE was reported in 18.5% of injections, with common AEs including increased post-procedural pain and vascular contrast uptake.
• A significant association was found between AE occurrence and higher pre-procedural maximum pain scores.

Conclusions:

• AEs are common following C1-2 joint injections but are generally not persistent or serious.
• Higher pre-procedural maximum pain scores are predictive of AE occurrence.