Comparison of clinical outcomes of ultrasonography-guided and blind local injections in facet syndrome: A 6-week randomized controlled trial.

Background: Facet syndrome is defined as pain that arises from any structure of the facet joints, including the fibrous capsule, synovial membrane, hyaline cartilage, and bone.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of US-guided and blind injections on clinical outcome in facet syndrome.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven patients with the diagnosis of facet syndrome were included. Patients were consecutively randomized into one of the two groups. The patient's history, physical examination and routine laboratory parameters were obtained and diagnose was established based on physical findings. Two injections (mixture of 2 ml of 1% lidocaine hydrochloride and 20 mg of triamcinolone, to a single or maximum two sites depending on the clinical characteristics of the facet joint) were performed with 15 days apart, as blinded or US-guided manner. Clinical outcome assessments were carried out at 0, 2nd and 6th weeks, using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Results: The patients' initial VAS and ODI were not significantly different. When the two groups were compared in the 6th week in terms of VAS scores, improvement was more pronounced in the US-guided injection group (US-guided group (n= 23) before 7.6 (2.2) cm, after 3.0 (1.7) cm, P= 0.0001 vs blind group (n= 24) before 7.2 (1.3) cm, after 5.2 (2.0) cm, P= 0.0001). The improvement in initial and 6th week ODI was statistically significant in the US-guided injection group (P= 0.006). Except STAI I for US-group, trait anxiety scale scores were significant in both groups.

Conclusion: The US-guided local injections offer better clinical outcome in the treatment of facet syndrome.