Anesthetic Skin Wheals and Procedural Pain During Lumbar MBBs

Review the journal article and evidence assessment that analyzes the methodology and findings of a study examining whether anesthetic skin wheals reduce procedural pain associated with lumbar medial branch blocks performed with 25-gauge needles. The paper, Procedural Pain During Lumbar Medial Branch Blocks With and Without Skin Wheal Anesthesia: A Prospective Comparative Observational Study by Chen AS et al. was critically reviewed by SIS Research Division members Drs. Patricia Zheng and Joe Lee.

Once you review the article and evidentiary table, you will be asked to complete a quiz to earn continuing medical education (CME) credits.

Fair Use Disclaimer
This article is made available for the purpose of this online continuing medical education activity under the fair use doctrine of copyright law, which allows that the use of a copyrighted work “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright” and factors to consider are “the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes” Section 107 of the Copyright Act.

Copyright
Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only. We reserve all rights to such material.

Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Examine emerging literature to mitigate risks and to practice spine interventions safely and best protect patients
• Discuss the application of evidence-based medicine principle to recent research findings
• Apply research findings to the practice of ethical, evidence-based interventional spine care

Research Division Reviewers Disclosure Information
RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ACCME DEFINED COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
Patricia Zheng, MD
Nothing to disclose

Joe Lee, MD
Nothing to disclose

OTHER DISCLOSURES
Patricia Zheng, MD
Nothing to disclose

Joe Lee, MD
Position as proprietor: Joe Lee, MD, LLC
Stock ownership: Pfizer, TRowe Price Health Sciences Fund
Consultant, expert witness, speaker, or author with a commercial interest: Prium, Veteran Evaluation Services, Consultant Dane Street
Expert witness: Advanced Medical Reviews
Travel expenses: Veteran Evaluation Services

Accreditation Statement
The Spine Intervention Society (SIS) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement
SIS designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Commercial Support
No commercial support was received for this activity.

Date of Activity Release: 9/18/2019
Date of Activity Expiration: 9/17/2022