The Relationship Between Patient Demographic and Clinical Characteristics and Successful Treatment Outcomes After Basivertebral Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation: A Pooled Cohort Study of Three Prospective Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple studies have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of basivertebral nerve radiofrequency ablation (BVN RFA) for improving low back pain related to the vertebral endplate. However, the influence of patient demographic and clinical characteristics on treatment outcome is unknown. DESIGN: Pooled cohort study of three clinical trials of patients with vertebral endplate pain identified by Type 1 and/or Type 2 Modic changes and a correlating presentation of anterior spinal element pain. SETTING: Thirty-three global study centers. SUBJECTS: Patients (n = 296) successfully treated with BVN RFA. METHODS: Participant demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed with stepwise logistic regression to identify predictors of treatment success. Three definitions of treatment success were defined: 1) ≥50% visual analog scale pain improvement, 2) ≥15-point Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) improvement, and 3) ≥50% visual analog scale or ≥15-point ODI improvement from baseline. RESULTS: Low back pain of ≥5 years' duration and higher ODI scores at baseline increased the odds of treatment success, whereas baseline opioid use and higher Beck Depression Inventory scores reduced these odds. However, the three regression models demonstrated receiver-operating characteristics of 62-70% areas under the curve, and thus, limited predictive capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis identified no demographic or clinical characteristic that meaningfully increased or reduced the odds of treatment success from BVN RFA. On the basis of these findings and the high response rates from the three analyzed trials, we recommend the use of objective imaging biomarkers (Type 1 and/or 2 Modic changes) and a correlating presentation of anterior spinal element pain to determine optimal candidacy for BVN RFA.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics Associated with Treatment Success from Basivertebral Nerve Ablation: An Aggregated Cohort Study of Multicenter Prospective Clinical Trials Data.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate associations between endplate and motion segment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics and treatment outcomes following basivertebral nerve radiofrequency ablation (BVN RFA) in patients with clinically suspected vertebral endplate pain (VEP). DESIGN: Aggregated cohort study of 296 participants treated with BVN RFA from three prospective clinical trials. METHODS: Baseline MRI characteristics were analyzed using stepwise logistic regression to identify factors associated with treatment success. Predictive models used three definitions of treatment success: (1) ≥50% low back pain (LBP) visual analog scale (VAS), (2) ≥15-point Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and (3) ≥50% VAS or ≥15-point ODI improvements at 3-months post-BVN RFA. RESULTS: The presence of lumbar facet joint fluid (odds ratio [OR] 0.586) reduced the odds of BVN RFA treatment success in individuals with clinically suspected VEP. In patients with a less advanced degenerative disc disease (DDD) profile, a > 50% area of the endplate with bone marrow intensity changes (BMIC) was predictive of treatment success (OR 4.689). Both regressions areas under the curve (AUCs) were under 70%, indicating low predictive value. All other vertebral endplate, intervertebral disc, nerve roots facet joint, spinal segmental alignment, neuroforamina, lateral recesses, and central canal MRI characteristics were not associated with BVN RFA success. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with vertebrogenic low back pain with Modic changes, the presence of degenerative findings of the anterior and posterior column was not associated with a clinically important impact on BVN RFA treatment success. None of the models demonstrated strong predictive value, indicating that the use of objective imaging biomarkers (Type 1 and/or 2 Modic changes) and a correlating presentation of pain remain the most useful patient selection factors for BVN RFA.

Pain Location and Exacerbating Activities Associated with Treatment Success Following Basivertebral Nerve Ablation: An Aggregated Cohort Study of Multicenter Prospective Clinical Trial Data.

OBJECTIVE: Develop pain location "maps" and investigate the relationship between low back pain (LBP)-exacerbating activities and treatment response to basivertebral nerve radiofrequency ablation (BVN RFA) in patients with clinically suspected vertebral endplate pain (VEP). DESIGN: Aggregated cohort study of 296 patients treated with BVN RFA at 33 centers in three prospective trials. METHODS: Participant demographics, pain diagrams, and LBP-exacerbating activities were analyzed for predictors using stepwise logistic regression. Treatment success definitions were: (1) ≥50% LBP visual analog scale (VAS), (2) ≥15-point Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and (3) ≥50% VAS or ≥15-point ODI improvements at 3 months post-BVN RFA. RESULTS: Midline LBP correlated with BVN RFA treatment success in individuals with clinically-suspected VEP. Duration of pain ≥5 years (OR 2.366), lack of epidural steroid injection within 6 months before BVN RFA (OR 1.800), lack of baseline opioid use (OR 1.965), LBP exacerbation with activity (OR 2.099), and a lack of LBP with spinal extension (OR 1.845) were factors associated with increased odds of treatment success. Regressions areas under the curve (AUCs) were under 70%, indicative of low predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that midline LBP correlates with BVN RFA treatment success in individuals with VEP. While none of the regression models demonstrated strong predictive value, the pain location and exacerbating factors identified in this analysis may aid clinicians in identifying patients where VEP should be more strongly suspected. The use of objective imaging biomarkers (Type 1 and/or 2 Modic changes) and a correlating presentation of anterior spinal element pain remain the most useful patient selection factors for BVN RFA.

Emergency provider analgesic practices and attitudes toward patients with sickle cell disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We determine whether emergency provider attitudes and demographics are associated with adherence to national guidelines for the management of acute sickle cell disease pain. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of emergency providers at the 2011 annual American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly, using a validated instrument to assess provider attitudes and self-reported analgesic practices toward patients with sickle cell disease. Multivariable, relative risk regressions were used to identify factors associated with adherence to guidelines. RESULTS: There were 722 eligible participants, with a 93% complete response rate. Most providers self-reported adherence to the cornerstones of sickle cell disease pain management, including parenteral opioids (90%) and redosing opioids within 30 minutes if analgesia is inadequate (85%). Self-reported adherence was lower for other recommendations, including use of patient-controlled analgesia, acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hypotonic fluids for euvolemic patients. Emergency providers in the highest quartile of negative attitudes were 20% less likely to redose opioids within 30 minutes for inadequate analgesia (risk ratio 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7 to 0.9). High-volume providers (those who treat more than 1 sickle cell disease patient per week), were less likely to redose opioids within 30 minutes for inadequate analgesia (risk ratio 0.9; 95% CI 0.8 to 0.9). Pediatric providers were 6.6 times more likely to use patient-controlled analgesia for analgesia (95% CI 2.6 to 16.6). CONCLUSION: The majority of emergency providers report that they adhere to national guidelines about use of opioids for sickle cell disease-related acute pain episodes. Other recommendations have less penetration. Negative attitudes toward individuals with sickle cell disease are associated with lower adherence to guidelines.

Renal trauma after blunt abdominal injury.

BACKGROUND: The kidney is the third most common solid organ injury in blunt abdominal trauma. The preferred treatment of blunt kidney injury varies according to grade of severity, with a preference for non-operative management in most instances. DISCUSSION: We examine an unusual case of blunt renal trauma. In this case, our patient presented with severe flank pain and hematuria after a game of softball. Our focused abdominal sonography for trauma revealed fluid in the splenorenal recess concerning for intra-abdominal injury, and subsequent abdominal computed tomography confirmed a grade IV kidney laceration. CONCLUSION: Our patient was managed medically despite his high grade of injury. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of blunt renal trauma and highlights the fact that despite significant injury, a patient can go on to do well with conservative management alone.