SynthesisEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2025
Effectiveness of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/SPECT-CT) in predicting therapeutic response to facet interventions for facet joint-related low back pain: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Artificial Intelligence in Spine Neuroimaging: Diagnostic and Prognostic Utility of Novel Biomarkers in Lower Back Pain.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeFacet joint pain is a common cause of mechanical low back pain. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/SPECT-CT) aids in identifying pain foci. Still, its role in guiding therapeutic decisions for facet joint interventions, such as medial branch blocks and intra-articular injections, and their associated clinical response remains uncertain. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of SPECT/SPECT-CT in guiding facet interventions for low back pain.
methodsA systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, searching seven databases and two clinical trial registries. Studies comparing outcomes between patients undergoing facet joint interventions guided by positive SPECT/SPECT-CT findings and those with negative imaging results, alternative imaging modalities, or physical examination were included. Pain intensity, functionality, and quality of life were assessed. The ROBINS-I tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. Data were synthesized in tables, and a meta-analysis was performed.
resultsOf 2,622 articles screened, six cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, including four that used intra-articular injections, with a total of 308 patients. SPECT alone showed a significant pooled effect favoring pain relief after facet interventions (RR 2.06, 95% CI 1.54-2.75; I² = 3%), while SPECT-CT showed no significant effect (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.59-1.49; I² = 74%). By intervention type, intra-articular injections guided by SPECT/SPECT-CT showed a significant effect (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.18-2.46; I² = 61%), whereas medial branch blocks did not (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.58-1.84; I² = 72%). Sensitivity analysis excluding one high-risk study confirmed the significant pooled effect (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.12-2.48; I² = 0%).
conclusionSPECT alone may help predict outcomes for facet interventions, especially intra-articular injections, but evidence for SPECT-CT remains inconclusive. This should be interpreted with caution, given the current study limitations.
Indexed as
Identifiers
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Registered trials
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.