2022 Volume 13 Issue 6 Pages 890-894
Introduction: Recent histological studies on musculoskeletal tissues with chronic pain demonstrated that the presence of abnormal growth of microvasculature often accompanied innervation of peripheral nerves. Subsequently, transcatheter arterial microembolization (TAME) was also applied to other intractable joint diseases, but its efficacy for low back pain has not been evaluated. The therapeutic effect of TAME in 6 patients with lumbar facet joint disease was evaluated.
Methods: The subjects included 6 patients (3 males and 3 females; average age 68.5 years; average duration of morbidity of 16.5 months) with lumbar facet joint disease. The relationship between the pain area and abnormal blood vessels was evaluated by angiography. The numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at rest, during movement, and during back bending and JOA scores before, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after TAME were determined.
Results: Angiography showed the presence of abnormal blood vessels around the area of facet joints with pain and tenderness, and they disappeared after TAME in all cases. The pain improvement after TAME was observed at as early as 1 week, when judged by the NRS at rest, during movement and during back bending, and it continued for up to 3 months after surgery. The improvement rate of the JOA score was 31.4% at 3 months after TAME.
Conclusions: Abnormal blood vessels were observed in all cases of chronic lumbar facet joint disease, and improvement of pain related to lumbar facet joint disease continued for up to 3 months after TAME. TAME appears to be an effective intervention for lumbar facet joint disease, but further clinical studies were warranted.
