The Effect of Bipolar Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment on Chronic Lumbosacral Radicular Pain Refractory to Monopolar Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment.

Background: Patients with lumbosacral radicular pain may complain of persisting pain after monopolar pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment.

Objective: We evaluated the effect of bipolar PRF stimulation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular pain who were unresponsive to both monopolar PRF stimulation of the DRG and transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI).

Study Design: This is a prospective observational study.

Transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied to optimal points on the lower abdomen and lumbar paraspinal region changes gait parameters in patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis.

Background: Lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) is characterized by sagittal imbalance resulting from degenerative loss of lumbar lordosis. The ability of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to activate deep lumbar stabilizing muscles has been demonstrated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous NMES applied to optimal points on the lower abdomen and lumbar paraspinal region on gait problems in patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK).

The effect of intra-articular stimulation by pulsed radiofrequency on chronic sacroiliac joint pain refractory to intra-articular corticosteroid injection: A retrospective study.

We investigated the degree of pain reduction following intra-articular (IA) pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) in patients with chronic SIJ pain that had not responded to IA corticosteroid injection. Twenty patients were recruited. Clinical outcomes after applying PRF stimulation of the SIJ were evaluated by a numeric rating scale (NRS) and a 7-point Likert scale.

Comparison of Intra-articular Thoracic Facet Joint Steroid Injection and Thoracic Medial Branch Block for the Management of Thoracic Facet Joint Pain.

Study Design: A prospective observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to show the effect of intra-articular (IA) thoracic facet joint (TFJ) steroid injection for the management of TFJ pain, and to compare it with the effect of therapeutic thoracic medial branch block (MBB) with a local anesthetic and steroid.

Summary Of Background Data: Several studies have shown the effects of thoracic MBB with local anesthetics with or without steroids and radiofrequency neurotomy in managing TFJ pain, but thus far, the effectiveness of IA TFJ steroid injection has not been studied.

Diffusion Tensor Tractography for Detection of Concomitant Traumatic Brain Injury in Patients With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

Objectives: We investigated concomitant traumatic brain injury in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) who had head trauma history, using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).

Design: Retrospective survey.

Participants: We recruited 14 consecutive patients with TSCI and coexisting head trauma history at the time of TSCI and 30 control subjects.

Comparison of intra-articular lumbar facet joint pulsed radiofrequency and intra-articular lumbar facet joint corticosteroid injection for management of lumbar facet joint pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of intra-articular (IA) lumbar facet joint (LFJ) pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) for the management of LFJ pain, and to compare the effect of IA LFJ PRF to IA corticosteroid injection (ICI). Pathology in the LFJ is a common source of lower back pain (LBP). It is responsible for chronic LBP in approximately 15% to 45% of patients.

Comparison between bipolar pulsed radiofrequency and monopolar pulsed radiofrequency in chronic lumbosacral radicular pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chronic lumbosacral radicular pain is a challenging medical problem with respect to therapeutic management. Many patients with lumbosacral radicular pain complain of persistent leg pain after transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Nowadays, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is widely used for controlling lumbosacral radicular pain.

Changes in Neuroglial Activity in Multiple Spinal Segments after Caudal Epidural Pulsed Radiofrequency in a Rat Model of Lumbar Disc Herniation.

Background: Herniated lumbar discs can induce sciatica by mechanical compression and/or chemical irritation. It was recently reported that neuroglial cellular activity after pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) application to a single dorsal root ganglion (DRG) attenuated neuroglial activity at the corresponding spinal dorsal horn. Recently, caudal epidural PRF has been used to manage neuropathic pain, but evidence of molecular changes after the administration of caudal epidural PRF to attenuate neuropathic pain is lacking, and it has not been determined whether caudal epidural PRF affects neuroglial activity at different spinal levels.

Comparison of the Effects of Ultrasound-Guided Interfascial Pulsed Radiofrequency and Ultrasound-Guided Interfascial Injection on Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Gastrocnemius.

Objective: To investigate the comparative treatment effects of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment (UG-PRF) in the gastrocnemius interfascial space and ultrasound-guided interfascial injection (UG-INJ) on myofascial pain syndrome.

Methods: Forty consecutive patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the gastrocnemius were enrolled and were allocated to one of the two groups. Twenty patients were treated by UG-PRF delivered to the gastrocnemius interfascial space (UG-PRF group) and the other 20 patients were treated by interfascial injection (UG-INJ group).

A New Sacroiliac Joint Injection Technique and Its Short-Term Effect on Chronic Sacroiliac Region Pain.

Objectives: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) injections have been used to provide short-term relief of SIJ pain. In this study, the authors investigated a new technique using a superior approach.

Methods: Twenty four patients with chronic SI joint paint were recruited.

Raster-stereographic evaluation of the effects of biomechanical foot orthoses in patients with scoliosis.

[Purpose] Little is known about the effects of biomechanical foot orthoses in scoliosis, as determined by raster stereography. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of individually manufactured biomechanical foot orthoses on scoliosis angle, trunk imbalance, and pelvic obliquity by comparing them with general insoles by using DIERS formetric 4 dimensional in patients with scoliosis. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-six patients with scoliosis were recruited at Yeungnam University Hospital and allocated equally to one of two groups, the biomechanical foot orthoses group or the control group.

Comparative Effectivenesses of Pulsed Radiofrequency and Transforaminal Steroid Injection for Radicular Pain due to Disc Herniation: a Prospective Randomized Trial.

Transforaminal Epidural steroid injections (TFESI) have been widely adopted to alleviate and control radicular pain in accord with current guidelines. However, sometimes repeated steroid injections have adverse effects, and thus, this prospective randomized trial was undertaken to compare the effectivenesses of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) administered to a targeted dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and TFESI for the treatment of radicular pain due to disc herniation. Subjects were recruited when first proved unsuccessful (defined as a score of > 4 on a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0-10 mm) and of > 30% according to the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) or the Neck Disability Index (NDI)).

Two-Year Outcome of Percutaneous Bipolar Radiofrequency Neurotomy of Sacral Nerves S2 and S3 in Spinal Cord Injured Patients with Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study.

Background: Little research has been expended on the use of bipolar radiofrequency (RF) lesioning of sacral nerves in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO), and no study has been undertaken to demonstrate its long-term effect.

Objective: To investigated the effect of bipolar RF ablation of the second and third sacral nerves over 2 years in SCI patients with NDO.

Study Design: A prospective, randomized controlled feasibility study.

Changes in deep lumbar stabilizing muscle thickness by transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation in patients with low back pain.

Background: Transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is known to stimulate contraction of deep lumbar stabilizing muscles.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in deep lumbar stabilizing muscle thickness during transcutaneous NMES on specific abdominal wall and paraspinal regions.

Methods: Thirty patients with low back pain (LBP) were recruited.

The effects of biomechanical foot orthoses on the gait patterns of patients with malalignment syndrome as determined by three dimensional gait analysis.

[Purpose] The biomechanical effects of foot orthoses on malalignment syndrome have not been fully clarified. This experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of orthoses on the gait patterns of patients with malalignment syndrome. [Subjects and Methods] Ten patients with malalignment syndrome were recruited.

The effects of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the activation of deep lumbar stabilizing muscles of patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis.

[Purpose] To investigate the effectiveness of three different neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) protocols for the deep lumbar stabilizing muscles of patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK). [Subjects and Methods] Twenty patients with LDK were recruited. Three stimulation protocols were investigated: stimulation of the abdominal muscles (protocol A); stimulation of the lumbar muscles (protocol B); and simultaneous stimulation of the abdominal and lumbar muscles (protocol A+B).

Pelvic floor muscle contraction and abdominal hollowing during walking can selectively activate local trunk stabilizing muscles.

Background: Trunk muscle exercises are widely performed, and many studies have been performed to examine their effects on low back pains. However, the effect of trunk muscles activations during walking with pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC) and abdominal hollowing (AH) has not been clarified.

Object: To investigate whether walking with PFMC and AH is more effective for promoting local trunk muscle activation than walking without PFMC and AH.

The Effect of GCSB-5 a New Herbal Medicine on Changes in Pain Behavior and Neuroglial Activation in a Rat Model of Lumbar Disc Herniation.

Objective: Lumbar disc herniation can induce sciatica by mechanical compression and/or chemical irritation. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of GCSB-5 (Shinbaro®) and NSAIDs on pain-related behavior and on the expressions of microglia, astrocytes, CGRP, TRPV1, IL-6, and CX3CL1 in a rat model of lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: 112 male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent implantation of nucleus pulposus to a dorsal root ganglion (DRG).

ISSLS Prize Winner: Consensus on the Clinical Diagnosis of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Results of an International Delphi Study.

Study Design: Delphi.

Objective: The aim of this study was to obtain an expert consensus on which history factors are most important in the clinical diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Summary Of Background Data: LSS is a poorly defined clinical syndrome.

Changes in the Expressions of Iba1 and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in Adjacent Lumbar Spinal Segments after Lumbar Disc Herniation in a Rat Model.

Lumbar disc herniation is commonly encountered in clinical practice and can induce sciatica due to mechanical and/or chemical irritation and the release of proinflammatory cytokines. However, symptoms are not confined to the affected spinal cord segment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether multisegmental molecular changes exist between adjacent lumbar spinal segments using a rat model of lumbar disc herniation.

Short-Term Effect of Percutaneous Bipolar Continuous Radiofrequency on Sacral Nerves in Patients Treated for Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity After Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study.

Objective: To investigate the short-term effects of bipolar radiofrequency applied to sacral nerves to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with spinal cord injury.

Methods: Ten patients with spinal cord injury with neurogenic detrusor overactivity were recruited. These subjects were randomized to two groups: intervention (n=5) and control (n=5), members of which received conventional treatment.

The effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation at different frequencies on the activations of deep abdominal stabilizing muscles.

Backgroud: Low back pain is associated with transversus abdominis (TrA) dysfunction. Recently, it was proposed that Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) could be used to stimulate deep abdominal muscle contractions and improve lumbopelvic stability.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal stimulation frequency required during NMES for the activation of deep abdominal muscles.

Clinical evaluation of transforaminal epidural steroid injection in patients with gadolinium enhancing spinal nerves associated with disc herniation.

Background: Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) of corticosteroid is frequently employed to mitigate the painful and disabling symptoms of lumbar disc herniation. However, the treatment outcome of TFESI in patients with radicular pain and inflamed neural structures as assessed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been forthcoming.

Objectives: To investigate functional improvement and pain reduction following TFESI in patients found to have nerve inflammation as evidenced by gadolinium-enhanced (MRI).

The Relation Between Injury of the Spinothalamocortical Tract and Central Pain in Chronic Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objectives: Little is known about the pathogenetic etiology of central pain in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated the relation between injury of the spinothalamocortical tract (STT) and chronic central pain in patients with mild TBI.

Design: Retrospective survey.

Activations of deep lumbar stabilizing muscles by transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation of lumbar paraspinal regions.

Objective: To investigate changes in lumbar multifidus (LM) and deep lumbar stabilizing abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis [TrA] and obliquus internus [OI]) during transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of lumbar paraspinal L4-L5 regions using real-time ultrasound imaging (RUSI).

Methods: Lumbar paraspinal regions of 20 healthy physically active male volunteers were stimulated at 20, 50, and 80 Hz. Ultrasound images of the LM, TrA, OI, and obliquus externus (OE) were captured during stimulation at each frequency.