Procedural outcomes
| Outcome | Facet interventions | Sacroiliac joint injections (n=67) | Epidural steroid injection (n=167) | P value† | Total cohort (n=346) | |
| All facet interventions* (n=112) | Radiofrequency ablation (n=58) | |||||
| Change in average NRS back pain score (mean±SD) | −1.2±2.4 | −2.0±2.5 | −1.8±2.5 | −1.1±2.4 | 0.022 | −1.6±2.5 |
| Change in worst NRS back pain score (mean±SD) | −1.6±2.5 | −2.4±2.7 | −2.4±2.9 | −1.7±3.0 | 0.14 | −2.1±2.9 |
| Change in average NRS leg pain score (mean±SD) | −1.5±2.7 | |||||
| Change in worst NRS leg pain score (mean±SD) | −2.4±3.0 | |||||
| Change in average NRS primary location pain score (mean±SD)‡ | −1.2±2.4 | −2.0±2.5 | −1.8±2.5 | −1.5±2.7 | 0.50 | −1.8±2.6 |
| Change in worst NRS primary location pain score (mean±SD)‡ | −1.6±2.5 | −2.4±2.7 | −2.4±2.9 | −2.4±3.0 | 1.00 | −2.5±2.9 |
| Change in Oswestry Disability Score (mean±SD) | −4±12 | −7±11 | −7±13 | −4±15 | 0.29 | −5±14 |
Differences are listed as change from baseline, with negative numbers denoting a decrease in NRS pain score.
*Includes individuals with negative diagnostic medial branch blocks.
†P value is for one-way ANOVA comparison of radiofrequency ablation, sacroiliac joint injections and epidural steroid injections (excludes medial branch blocks).
‡Primary location is back for facet and sacroiliac joint injections, leg for epidural steroid injections.
ANOVA, analysis of variance; NRS, numerical rating scale.