The Effectiveness of Cervical Medial Branch Thermal Radiofrequency Neurotomy Stratified by Selection Criteria: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of cervical medial branch thermal radiofrequency neurotomy in the treatment of neck pain or cervicogenic headache based on different selection criteria.

Design: Comprehensive systematic review.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and the authors screened and evaluated the studies.

Risks and Benefits of Ceasing or Continuing Anticoagulant Medication for Image-Guided Procedures for Spine Pain: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To determine the risks of continuing or ceasing anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications prior to image-guided procedures for spine pain.

Design: Systematic review of the literature with comprehensive analysis of the published data.

Interventions: Following a search of the literature for studies pertaining to spine pain interventions in patients on anticoagulant medication, seven reviewers appraised the studies identified and assessed the quality of evidence presented.

The Effectiveness and Risks of Fluoroscopically-Guided Cervical Medial Branch Thermal Radiofrequency Neurotomy: A Systematic Review with Comprehensive Analysis of the Published Data.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and risks of fluoroscopically-guided cervical medial branch thermal radiofrequency neurotomy (CMBTRFN) for treating chronic neck pain of zygapophysial joint origin.

Design: Systematic review of the literature with comprehensive analysis of the published data.

Interventions: Four reviewers formally trained in evidence-based medicine searched the literature on CMBTRFN.

Diagnosis and treatment of posterior sacroiliac complex pain: a systematic review with comprehensive analysis of the published data.

Objective: To assess the evidence on the validity of sacral lateral branch blocks and the effectiveness of sacral lateral branch thermal radiofrequency neurotomy in managing sacroiliac complex pain.

Design: Systematic review with comprehensive analysis of all published data.

Interventions: Six reviewers searched the literature on sacral lateral branch interventions.

The effectiveness and risks of fluoroscopically guided cervical transforaminal injections of steroids: a systematic review with comprehensive analysis of the published data.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and risks of fluoroscopically guided cervical transforaminal injection of corticosteroids in the treatment of radicular pain.

Design: Systematic review of the literature with comprehensive analysis of the published data.

Interventions: Three reviewers with formal training in evidence-based medicine searched the literature on fluoroscopically guided cervical transforaminal injection of steroids (CTFIS).

The effectiveness of lumbar transforaminal injection of steroids: a comprehensive review with systematic analysis of the published data.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of lumbar transforaminal injection of steroids in the treatment of radicular pain.

Design: Comprehensive review of the literature with systematic analysis of all published data.

Interventions: Four reviewers independently assessed 39 publications on the effectiveness of lumbar transforaminal injection of steroids.

The validity of manual examination in assessing patients with neck pain.

Background Context: Although manual therapists believe that they can diagnose symptomatic joints in the neck by manual examination, that conviction is based on only one study. That study claimed that manual examination of the neck had 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for diagnosing painful zygapophyseal joints. However, the study indicated that its results should be reproduced before they could be generalized.