Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Using Imipenem/Cilastatin Sodium for Chronic Low Back Pain Resistant to Conservative Treatment: A Pilot Study with 2-Year Follow-Up.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and 2-year follow-up clinical outcomes of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using imipenem/cilastatin sodium for chronic low back pain resistant to conservative treatment.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review identified 14 patients who underwent TAE for chronic low back pain between October 2017 and August 2018. Patients with low back pain related to the facet or sacroiliac joint, lasting ≥ 6 months, refractory to ≥ 3 months of conservative treatment were eligible for TAE. Each patient received embolization of feeding arteries of painful regions. The changes in brief pain inventory (BPI) scores, adverse events, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, and 24 months after TAE. Clinical success was defined as BPI maximum pain intensity decrease of ≥ 2 and ODI decrease of ≥ 10 points from baseline.

Results: Follow-up data were available in 13 and 11 patients, at 3 and 24 months after embolization, respectively. Intention-to-treat clinical success was obtained in 11/14 (79%) of patients at 3 months and 8/14 (57%) of patients at 24 months after TAE. Mean BPI maximum pain intensity and ODI scores decreased significantly from baseline to 1, 3, and 24 months after treatment (7.6 vs.. 4.3, 3.4, and 4.1; 40.8 vs 21.5, 20.0, and 23.8, respectively; all P < 0.01). No major adverse events were associated with the procedures.

Conclusion: TAE is one possible treatment option for patients with chronic low back pain refractory to conservative treatment.