Extracorporeal shock waves combined with intervertebral foramen injection for treating lumbar facet joint syndrome / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) combined with intervertebral foramen injection on the lumbar facet joint syndrome.Methods Ninety-three patients presenting the syndrome were randomly divided into acombined group,ashock wave group and acontrol group,each of 31,according to a random number tab.All three groups were given a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,the shock wave group was additionally treated with a course of ESW,while the combined group received the shock wave treatment and lumbar intervertebral foramen injection.The three groups were assessed using theOswestry disability index (ODI),theRoland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)and a life quality scale (QOL-SF36) beforetreatment and after 1,4 and 8 weeks of treatment.Pain was reported using a visual analogue scale (VAS).Results Theaverage VAS,ODI,RMDQ and QOL-SF36 scores of the three groups had all improved after the treatment.After one week the average scores of VAS (2.6±1.4),ODI (15.9±8.3),RMDQ (9.9±5.4) and QOL-SF36 (74.6±17.1) of the combined group had improved significantly more than those of the control group [VAS (4.3± 1.3),ODI(22.8± 6.9),RMDQ (14.9±7.7) and QOL-SF36 (61.6±17.7)].Fourweeks after the treatment,the averageVAS,ODl,RMDQ andQOL-SF36 scores [(2.5±1.3),(15.1±7.3),(9.8±5.1) and (76.8±16.8)] of the shock wave group had improved significantly more than those of the control group [(3.9 ± 1.4),(20.3 ± 8.2),(13.9 ± 8.1) and (67.2±20.6)].Such significant improvements lasted until 8 weeks after the treatment.ConclusionsESW combined with intervertebral foramen injection can relieve the pain oflumbar facet joint syndrome,improve lumbar vertebral function and patients' quality of life.It is worthy of clinical application.