Lumbar Dorsal Root Ganglion Block As A Prognostic Tool Prior to Pulsed Radiofrequency: A Randomized, Prospective, and Comparative Study on Cost-Effectiveness.

Lumbar Dorsal Root Ganglion Block As A Prognostic Tool Prior to Pulsed Radiofrequency: A Randomized, Prospective, and Comparative Study on Cost-Effectiveness.

World Neurosurg. 2018 Jan 06;:

Authors: Lee CC, Chen CJ, Chou CC, Wang HY, Chung WY, Peng GS, Lin CP

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: In the study, we discuss the predictive value and cost-effectiveness of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) blocks prior to using dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency (DRG-PRF) in the treatment of low back pain.
METHODS: The study comprised 60 patients with low back pain who were randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in Group 1 were screened using DRG block prior to DRG-PRF treatment for responders. Patients in Group 2 underwent DRG-PRF treatment without DRG block. Successful outcome was defined as patient satisfaction, improvement in numerical rating scale, and medication use reduction.
RESULTS: In group 1 (n=30), 24 patients demonstrated good response to DRG block, and 20 patients had successful outcome at six months after DRG-PRF therapy. In group 2 (n=30), 25 of the patients had successful outcome at six months after DRG-PRF therapy. The mean medical cost were NT$ 19,245 and NT$ 16,375 for each successful case in groups 1 and 2, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: In this comparative cost-effectiveness study, the application of diagnostic DRG blocks before DRG-PRF did not have a significant impact on patient satisfaction, pain index score, or pain medication reduction. Furthermore, the application of diagnostic DRG blocks resulted in overall higher medical costs. These findings suggest that DRG-PRF without screening by DRG-block is more cost-effective and less invasive.

PMID: 29317362 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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