The results of this review demonstrate that tests do exist that change the probability of the disc or SIJ ( but not the facet joint ) as the source of low back pain .
Clinical practice guidelines state that the tissue source of low back pain can not be specified in the majority of patients .
However , there has been no systematic review of the accuracy of diagnostic tests used to identify the source of low back pain .
The aim of this systematic review was therefore to determine the diagnostic accuracy of tests available to clinicians to identify the disc , facet joint or sacroiliac joint ( SIJ ) as the source of low back pain .
Clinical Features of Patients with Pain Stemming from the Lumbar Zygapophysial Joints: Is the Lumbar Facet Syndrome a Clinical Entity?
Study Design This study is a prospect i ve cross-sectional analytic study . Objectives The authors determined the prevalence and clinical features of patients with pain stemming from the lumbar zygapophysial joints . Summary of Background Data Previous studies have demonstrated a wide range of prevalence for zygapophysial joint pain and conflicting results with regard to clinical signs . Methods One hundred and seventy-six consecutive patients with chronic low back pain were investigated with a series of screening zygapophysial joint blocks using lignocaine and confirmatory blocks using bupivacaine . Results Forty-seven percent of patients had a definite or greater response to the screening injection at one or more levels but only 15 % had a 50 % or greater response to a confirmatory block . Response to zygapophysial joint injection was not associated with any single clinical feature or set of clinical features . Conclusions The zygapophysial joint is an important source of pain but the existence of a “ facet syndrome ” must be question ed
The results of this review demonstrate that tests do exist that change the probability of the disc or SIJ ( but not the facet joint ) as the source of low back pain .
Clinical practice guidelines state that the tissue source of low back pain can not be specified in the majority of patients .
However , there has been no systematic review of the accuracy of diagnostic tests used to identify the source of low back pain .
The aim of this systematic review was therefore to determine the diagnostic accuracy of tests available to clinicians to identify the disc , facet joint or sacroiliac joint ( SIJ ) as the source of low back pain .