Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39504454›Full record

ArticlePain medicine (Malden, Mass.)2025

Evaluation of a novel nerve ablation technique to relieve lower back pain: a cadaveric feasibility pilot study.

Charlotte Jones-Whitehead, John Tran, Timothy D Wilson, Eldon Loh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Charlotte Jones-WhiteheadDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0009-0005-4570-1569
John TranSurgery (Division of Anatomy), Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7065-0381
Timothy D WilsonDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Eldon LohDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-5063-4827

Funding

The Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity Catalyst
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionRadiofrequency ablation is a treatment for facetogenic low back pain that targets medial branches of lumbar dorsal rami to denervate facet joints. Clinical outcomes vary; optimizing cannula placement to better capture the medial branch could improve clinical outcomes. A novel parasagittal technique was proposed from an anatomic model; this technique was proposed to optimize capture of the medial branch. The anatomic feasibility of the novel technique has not been evaluated.

objectiveTo simulate and evaluate the proposed parasagittal technique in its ability to achieve proper cannula placement and proximity of uninsulated cannula tips to the medial branches of the dorsal rami in cadaveric specimens.

methodsUnder fluoroscopic guidance, the parasagittal technique was used to place 14 cannulae targeting the lumbar medial branches of 2 cadavers. Meticulous dissection was undertaken to assess cannula alignment and measure proximities to target nerves with a digital caliper.

resultsThe novel parasagittal technique was successfully performed in a cadaveric model in 12 of 14 attempts. The technique achieved close proximity of cannula tips to medial branches (0.8 ± 1.1 mm). In 2 instances, cannulae were placed unsuccessfully; in one instance, the cannula was too far anterior, and in the other, it was too far retracted.

conclusionIn this cadaveric simulation study, the feasibility of performing the parasagittal technique for lumbar radiofrequency ablation was evaluated. This study suggests that the parasagittal technique is a feasible option for lumbar medial branch radiofrequency ablation.

Indexed as

Catheter AblationLow Back PainRadiofrequency AblationCadaverFeasibility StudiesFluoroscopyHumansLumbar VertebraePilot ProjectsZygapophyseal Jointback paincannula anglesdenervationfacet jointslow back painlumbar medial branchnerve ablationradiofrequency ablation

Identifiers

PMID39504454
PMCPMC11789780

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.