Predicting Treatment Success with Facet Syndrome: An Algorithm to Predict Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation Responders in a Military Population

Objective. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the medial branch nerve is a commonly performed procedure for patients with facet syndrome. RFA has previously been demonstrated to provide long-term functional improvement in approximately 50% of patients, including those who had significant pain relief after diagnostic medial branch block. We sought to identify factors associated with success of RFA for facet pain. Design. Active-duty military patients who underwent lumbar RFA (L3, L4, and L5 levels) over a 3-year period were analyzed. Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were assessed the day of procedure and at the 2-month and 6-month follow-up. These data were analyzed to identify associations between patient demographics, pain, and functional status and patients' improvement after RFA, with a primary outcome of ODI improvement and a secondary outcome of pain reduction. Results. Higher levels of starting functional impairment (starting ODI scores of 42.9 vs. 37.5; P = 0.0304) were associated with a greater likelihood of improvement in functional status 6 months after RFA, and higher starting pain scores (DVPRS pain scores of 6.1 vs. 5.1; P< 0.0001) were associated with a higher likelihood that pain scores would improve 6 months after RFA. A multivariate logistic regression was then used to develop a scoring system to predict improvement after RFA. The scoring system generated a C-statistic of 0.764, with starting ODI, pain scores, and both gender and smoking history as independent variables. Conclusions. This algorithm compares favorably to that of diagnostic medial branch block in terms of prediction accuracy (C-statistic of 0.764 vs. 0.57), suggesting that its use may improve patient selection in patients who undergo RFA for facet syndrome.

Automated summary

This study identified factors associated with success of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for facet pain. Higher levels of starting functional impairment and pain scores were associated with greater likelihood of improvement after RFA. A scoring system combining starting ODI, pain scores, gender, and smoking history was developed to predict improvement after RFA, which may improve patient selection for this procedure.