Comparing the Efficacy of Combined Treatment with Medial Branch Block and Facet Joint Injection in Axial Low Back Pain

INTRODUCTION: Medial branch nerve block (MBB) and facet joint injections (FJIs) can be used to manage axial low back pain. Although there have been studies comparing the MBB and FJI effects, a few studies have compared the therapeutic effects of both interventions combined with each separate intervention. This study aimed to compare the pain relief effect of MBB, FJI, and combined treatment with MBB and FJI in patients with axial low back pain. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with axial low back pain who had chart records of the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores measured before treatment and within 6 weeks after treatment. The proportion of patients with successful responses (>30%) was calculated and is presented with Wald confidence intervals. RESULTS: We included 66 patients (33, 17, and 16 patients in the MBB, FJI, and combined treatment with MBB and FJI groups). All the patient groups showed significant posttreatment improvements in the NRS [(proportion >30% decrease: MBB 24.2% (9.6–38.9), FJI 29.4% (7.8–51.1), and MBB + FJI 25.0% (3.8–46.2)] scores and the ODI [proportion >30% decrease: MBB 39.4% (22.7–56.1), FJI 23.5% (3.4–43.7), and MBB + FJI 37.5% (13.8–61.2)] scores. Furthermore, there was no significant among-group difference in the ODI and NRS scores. CONCLUSION: MBB, FJI, and combined treatment with MBB and FJI can reduce axial low back pain and improve secondary functional degradation. Although combined treatment with MBB and FJI required a longer intervention time, it did not have a pain relief effect superior to that of MBB or FJI alone.