CT-GUIDED INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE LUMBOSACRAL SPINE

The lumbosacral spine is the source of pain, suffering, and disability more frequently than any other part of the body, Pain in the lower ba ck can be managed with computed tomography-guided analgesic interventi onal procedures, such as periradicular infiltration, percutaneous lase r disk decompression, facet joint block, and percutaneous vertebroplas ty, Periradicular injection of steroids provides short-term and someti mes even long-term relief of low back pain, Percutaneous laser disk de compression is used to treat radiculalgia caused by disk herniation. F acet joint block is useful in diagnosis and treatment of facet syndrom e. Percutaneous vertebroplasty provides short- and long-term pain reli ef in patients with vertebral body disease, However, precise patient s election is essential to the success of each of these techniques. The interventional radiologist has an active role to play in minimally inv asive management of lower back pain and should be part of an interdisc iplinary team that determines the appropriate therapy.