Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40696857›Full record

ArticleAnaesthesiology intensive therapy2025

Noninferiority of ultrasound-guided lumbar disc block versus fluoroscopy-controlled lumbar discography for diagnosis of discogenic low back pain.

Wenxing Zhao, Liangliang He, Zhi Dou, Hongyan Wang, Liqiang Yang

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Anaesthesiology intensive therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Wenxing ZhaoXuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Liangliang HeXuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zhi DouXuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Hongyan WangXuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Liqiang YangXuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionEvaluation of ultrasound (US)-guided disc block used to diagnose discogenic pain, as described in case reports. The study aimed to ascertain the noninferiority of US-guided lumbar disc block to conventional discography in the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain (DLBP). MATERIAL AND

methodsThe reports of 418 patients undergoing lumbar fusion for DLBP were stratified into a US group receiving US-guided lumbar disc block and a control group receiving fluoroscopy (FL)-assistant discography via a propensity-score matched method in a 1 : 1 ratio. The primary endpoint was the confirmatory rate defined as the rate of clinical success following surgery measured by a numerical pain rating scale score ≤ 2 and an Oswestry Disability Index score ≤ 15 at the 1-month follow-up point. Secondary outcomes included needle insertions until contrast given, procedure time, radiation dosages and adverse events.

resultsThe confirmatory rates for disc block and discography were 71.8% and 73.2% (difference = -1.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -9.9%, 7.2%,

conclusionsUS-guided lumbar disc block was not inferior to conventional discography as a diagnostic modality in the evaluation of DLBP being considered for surgery. Given that the sonographic method provided advantages in terms of facilitation of needle insertion, reduced procedure time, and attenuated radiation exposure, it might be an alternative option for surgery decision making.

Indexed as

Low Back PainNerve BlockUltrasonography, InterventionalAdultFemaleFluoroscopyHumansLumbar VertebraeMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementSpinal Fusioncomplicationdisc blockdiscogenic low back paindiscographyradiation exposureultrasound

Identifiers

PMID40696857
PMCPMC12329494

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