Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-15DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100626
Sayed E. Wahezi , Ugur Yener , Suwannika Palee
{"title":"Authors' response to the letter to the editor on “Tendon modification with percutaneous ultrasound-guided tenotomy using TENEX®: A histological and macroscopic analysis of a bovine cadaveric model.”","authors":"Sayed E. Wahezi , Ugur Yener , Suwannika Palee","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100626","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100626","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100626"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In response to “Letter to the editor regarding “Assessing ChatGPT responses to patient questions on epidural steroid injections: A comparative study of general vs specific queries””","authors":"Timothy Olivier, Ankit Patel, Weibin Shi, Zilin Ma, Thiru M. Annaswamy","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100621","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100621"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100616
Ridvan Isik , Sena Unver , Savas Sencan , Osman Hakan Gunduz , Serdar Kokar , Kemal Nas
Background
We report the case of a patient who underwent transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI), and a combination of intradural contrast media spread and dural pulsation during the procedure.
Objective
We aimed to raise awareness of the importance of recognising atypical images in interventional pain procedures.
Methods
A 67-year-old woman presented with low back and right leg pain due to spinal stenosis. We performed right L3 TFESI with a Quincke spinal needle under the guidance of C-arm fluoroscopy. The needle placement on imaging consistent with the epidural region, but contrast distribution suggested subdural spread. When we administered contrast material again, the contrast extended and widened a little more in the cranio-caudal direction in the same region but did not disperse. Therefore, we obtained a live fluoroscopic image. The contrast media was accumulated in the same region and showed pulsatile properties in the images. We speculated that this image may be a combination of intradural spread and dural pulsation or may be due to the impact of an artery in the restricted epidural space.
Results
We terminated the procedure.The patient exhibited no neurological deficits, and lumbar MRI and CT angiography were conducted to exclude other causes The neuroradiologist evaluated the examinations and found no abnormalities. To alleviate the persistent pain of the patient, we prescribed medical treatment.
Conclusion
Atypical contrast media distributions may be seen during procedures. To avoid possible complications, it is vital for physicians to have a thorough knowledge of the contrast media distribution pattern.
{"title":"Could this atypical image be an unexpected combination? A visual vignette","authors":"Ridvan Isik , Sena Unver , Savas Sencan , Osman Hakan Gunduz , Serdar Kokar , Kemal Nas","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100616","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>We report the case of a patient who underwent transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI), and a combination of intradural contrast media spread and dural pulsation during the procedure.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We aimed to raise awareness of the importance of recognising atypical images in interventional pain procedures.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A 67-year-old woman presented with low back and right leg pain due to spinal stenosis. We performed right L3 TFESI with a Quincke spinal needle under the guidance of C-arm fluoroscopy. The needle placement on imaging consistent with the epidural region, but contrast distribution suggested subdural spread. When we administered contrast material again, the contrast extended and widened a little more in the cranio-caudal direction in the same region but did not disperse. Therefore, we obtained a live fluoroscopic image. The contrast media was accumulated in the same region and showed pulsatile properties in the images. We speculated that this image may be a combination of intradural spread and dural pulsation or may be due to the impact of an artery in the restricted epidural space.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We terminated the procedure.The patient exhibited no neurological deficits, and lumbar MRI and CT angiography were conducted to exclude other causes The neuroradiologist evaluated the examinations and found no abnormalities. To alleviate the persistent pain of the patient, we prescribed medical treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Atypical contrast media distributions may be seen during procedures. To avoid possible complications, it is vital for physicians to have a thorough knowledge of the contrast media distribution pattern.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100616"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144696461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-28DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100622
Gabriella H. Wozniak, Anish A. Rana, Andrew R. Stephens, Ramzi El-Hassan, Ben L. Laplante, Rajeev K. Patel
Background
Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections (CTFESI) are commonly used to treat cervical radicular pain, but concerns remain about their safety due to case reports of complications such as stroke, spinal cord injury and death. These complications have been associated with use of particulate steroids causing embolic infarcts from inadvertent intra-arterial injection. With the use of non-particulate steroids these complications have never been reported. Additionally, recent cohort studies have demonstrated safety. Yet many providers still consider these procedures to be unsafe. Additional work is needed to further elucidate the risk of complications after CTFESI.
Objective
The goal of this study is to demonstrate the safety of CTFESI in a large retrospective cohort study using non-particulate steroids.
Methods
Medical records of all consecutive patients who underwent CFTESI within a tertiary academic multidisciplinary spine center from December 2002 through September 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included vertebral level of injection, major (stroke, seizure, spinal cord injury, and death) and minor (headache, diaphoresis, syncope) complications, ED/urgent care visits within 2 weeks of procedure, and length of follow up within the performing PM&R department.
Results
A total of 1018 CTFESI procedures involving 558 patients were reviewed. There were no major complications in our study and no patients necessitated an ED or urgent care visit. Of 1018 total procedures, 16 (1.57 %) were attempted and aborted mid-procedure. Of these, 3 procedures were aborted due to inability to access the neuroforamen, 6 procedures were aborted due to signs of vascular uptake and/or subjective symptoms of vascular uptake, 3 procedures were aborted due to patient inability to tolerate the procedure, and 4 procedures were aborted due to vasovagal response. Only 1 (0.01 %) procedure resulted in a vasovagal response (hypotension, bradycardia, dizziness) following completion of the procedure.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated no major complications after fluoroscopy guided CTFESI with use of non-particulate steroids and standard safety techniques.
{"title":"No major complications seen in a retrospective review of 1,018 cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections","authors":"Gabriella H. Wozniak, Anish A. Rana, Andrew R. Stephens, Ramzi El-Hassan, Ben L. Laplante, Rajeev K. Patel","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections (CTFESI) are commonly used to treat cervical radicular pain, but concerns remain about their safety due to case reports of complications such as stroke, spinal cord injury and death. These complications have been associated with use of particulate steroids causing embolic infarcts from inadvertent intra-arterial injection. With the use of non-particulate steroids these complications have never been reported. Additionally, recent cohort studies have demonstrated safety. Yet many providers still consider these procedures to be unsafe. Additional work is needed to further elucidate the risk of complications after CTFESI.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The goal of this study is to demonstrate the safety of CTFESI in a large retrospective cohort study using non-particulate steroids.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Medical records of all consecutive patients who underwent CFTESI within a tertiary academic multidisciplinary spine center from December 2002 through September 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included vertebral level of injection, major (stroke, seizure, spinal cord injury, and death) and minor (headache, diaphoresis, syncope) complications, ED/urgent care visits within 2 weeks of procedure, and length of follow up within the performing PM&R department.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 1018 CTFESI procedures involving 558 patients were reviewed. There were no major complications in our study and no patients necessitated an ED or urgent care visit. Of 1018 total procedures, 16 (1.57 %) were attempted and aborted mid-procedure. Of these, 3 procedures were aborted due to inability to access the neuroforamen, 6 procedures were aborted due to signs of vascular uptake and/or subjective symptoms of vascular uptake, 3 procedures were aborted due to patient inability to tolerate the procedure, and 4 procedures were aborted due to vasovagal response. Only 1 (0.01 %) procedure resulted in a vasovagal response (hypotension, bradycardia, dizziness) following completion of the procedure.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrated no major complications after fluoroscopy guided CTFESI with use of non-particulate steroids and standard safety techniques.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100622"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-06-24DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100603
Nurbanu Hindioglu Dogan, Serdar Kokar, Savas Sencan, Osman Hakan Gunduz
Epidural analgesia is a valuable modality in managing cancer-related pain, particularly when systemic therapies are insufficient or poorly tolerated. This letter presents a case of technically challenging epidural catheterization in a patient with vertebral metastases, emphasizing the procedural difficulties posed by altered spinal anatomy and prior neuraxial interventions.
{"title":"Letter to the editor: Challenging epidural catheterization in a patient with vertebral metastases","authors":"Nurbanu Hindioglu Dogan, Serdar Kokar, Savas Sencan, Osman Hakan Gunduz","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100603","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100603","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Epidural analgesia is a valuable modality in managing cancer-related pain, particularly when systemic therapies are insufficient or poorly tolerated. This letter presents a case of technically challenging epidural catheterization in a patient with vertebral metastases, emphasizing the procedural difficulties posed by altered spinal anatomy and prior neuraxial interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100603"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144366640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-15DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100625
Clark C. Smith MD, MPH
{"title":"Reassessing the risks of Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections (CTFESI)","authors":"Clark C. Smith MD, MPH","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100625","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100625"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100609
Bunty Shah, Yakov Vorobeychik
Introduction
The previously described posterior ligamentous complex inflammatory syndrome can result in chronic axial low back pain. This condition can be identified through MRI findings that demonstrate inflammatory changes in the compartments of the posterior ligamentous complex region, with the space of Okada serving as a connection between them. However, an effective interventional treatment for this syndrome has not yet been proposed.
Case
We present the case of a patient suffering from persistent axial low back pain who did not respond to medication or physical therapy. A SPECT scan revealed significant radiotracer uptake in the bilateral L4-L5 facet joints and the L4-L5 interspinous ligament. Given that bilateral L3-L4 diagnostic medial branch blocks yielded negative results, posterior ligamentous complex inflammatory syndrome was suspected. Injection of contrast dye into the L4-L5 interspinous adventitial bursa demonstrated the spread of contrast material from the injection site to the space of Okada and the bilateral L4-L5 facet joints. Subsequent steroid injection provided the patient with over 80 % pain relief at the five-week follow-up.
Conclusion
Patients experiencing axial low back pain, particularly those with negative diagnostic medial branch blocks, should consider undergoing a SPECT scan. This recommendation is particularly relevant in cases involving Baastrup disease or pars defects, as these conditions are often associated with the presence of the space of Okada, which is crucial for the development of PLCIS. If this diagnosis is confirmed through imaging, a steroid injection into the adventitial interspinous bursa may offer an effective treatment for PLCIS by facilitating medication distribution throughout the compartments of the posterior ligamentous complex region.
{"title":"Optimal diagnosing and interventional treatment of the posterior ligamentous complex inflammatory syndrome","authors":"Bunty Shah, Yakov Vorobeychik","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100609","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100609","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The previously described posterior ligamentous complex inflammatory syndrome can result in chronic axial low back pain. This condition can be identified through MRI findings that demonstrate inflammatory changes in the compartments of the posterior ligamentous complex region, with the space of Okada serving as a connection between them. However, an effective interventional treatment for this syndrome has not yet been proposed.</div></div><div><h3>Case</h3><div>We present the case of a patient suffering from persistent axial low back pain who did not respond to medication or physical therapy. A SPECT scan revealed significant radiotracer uptake in the bilateral L4-L5 facet joints and the L4-L5 interspinous ligament. Given that bilateral L3-L4 diagnostic medial branch blocks yielded negative results, posterior ligamentous complex inflammatory syndrome was suspected. Injection of contrast dye into the L4-L5 interspinous adventitial bursa demonstrated the spread of contrast material from the injection site to the space of Okada and the bilateral L4-L5 facet joints. Subsequent steroid injection provided the patient with over 80 % pain relief at the five-week follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Patients experiencing axial low back pain, particularly those with negative diagnostic medial branch blocks, should consider undergoing a SPECT scan. This recommendation is particularly relevant in cases involving Baastrup disease or pars defects, as these conditions are often associated with the presence of the space of Okada, which is crucial for the development of PLCIS. If this diagnosis is confirmed through imaging, a steroid injection into the adventitial interspinous bursa may offer an effective treatment for PLCIS by facilitating medication distribution throughout the compartments of the posterior ligamentous complex region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100609"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144535544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-27DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100639
Andrea Perera , Teo Goroszeniuk , Keyoumars Ashkan
{"title":"Long term management of refractory angina due to cardiac syndrome X with peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNfS)","authors":"Andrea Perera , Teo Goroszeniuk , Keyoumars Ashkan","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100639","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100639"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-06-28DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100608
Tomás Caroço , Eva Kubrova , Sahil Gupta , Mark Friedrich B. Hurdle
{"title":"Letter to the Editor regarding \"Lumbar facet joint denervation targeting the medial branch in the sub-mammillary fossa: An anatomical optimization study\"","authors":"Tomás Caroço , Eva Kubrova , Sahil Gupta , Mark Friedrich B. Hurdle","doi":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.inpm.2025.100608","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100727,"journal":{"name":"Interventional Pain Medicine","volume":"4 3","pages":"Article 100608"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}