Pain and Spine Advanced Clinical Focus Session: A Debate About Spinal Interventions Through Different Age Groups-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The transcript details a session at a medical conference led by Jim Atchison from Mayo Clinic, focusing on debates surrounding pain management, particularly in younger patients. The dialogue centers on advancements in diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, and basal vertebral nerve ablation. Experts like Dr. Schneider and Dr. Desai offer insights into the complexities of diagnosing and treating pain in younger individuals where standard evaluations like medial branch blocks may have a reduced probability of success due to lower incidence of osteoarthritis. Concerns about over-treating patients with procedures and the risks associated are acknowledged, highlighting the need for cautious evaluation. They also discuss the potential benefits of neuromodulation for widespread back pain and note the limitations of current literature in supporting many treatment options. Wenchin Zhang touches on regenerative medicine, indicating the promise of treatments aiming to halt or reverse degenerative processes, although comprehensive evidence is not yet established. The final discussion revolves around sacroiliac joint pain, emphasizing the challenges in treatment, considering hypermobility issues, and the nuances in procedures like SI joint fusion. The session underscores the importance of individualized patient assessment and cautious advancement in procedural interventions in younger populations, advocating for expansion of conservative management options.

Keywords

pain management

younger patients

diagnostic advancements

epidural steroid injections

radiofrequency ablation

basal vertebral nerve ablation

neuromodulation

regenerative medicine

sacroiliac joint pain

individualized assessment

conservative management