Comparison of two different treatment methods in the approach to facet (Zygapophyseal) joint pain

Abstract

Low back pain has been recorded as the second most common pathology in adults. Irregularities in the zygapophyseal joints constitute one of the most well-known pathologies in this type of pain. Medial branch blocks and intra-articular injections have been used for the treatment. Local corticosteroid injections are also reliable for the treatment of low back pain. This study aims to compare the efficiency, in terms of low back pain palliation, of “intra-articular injection of local anesthetic and steroid drug combination” and “oral pain reliever and muscle relaxant combination” in the treatment of diagnosed non-discogenic low back pain. After Ethics Committee aproval 96 patients who had applied to outpatient clinic with low back pain complaints and were then treated for the diagnosis of facet joint pain between 2016 June -2019 June were examined. This retrospective study included 80 patients whose records were properly recorded and followed up in the scope of this one-center. Patients were classified into two groups; those given oral pain killers and muscle relaxants (n=40) and those who injected steroids and local anesthetics into the lumbar facet joint (n=40). Pain scores significantly decreased in both groups. When the low back pain is not discogenic, the patient should be subjected to further examination, and pain treatment should be started since this painful condition results in severe labor loss in society. We suggest that oral treatment or combined injections of steroids and local anesthetics for the cases, whose low back pain is determined to originate from the lumbar facet joint, will be very effective in therapeutic pain relief.