Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures in pain management: Evidence-based medicine

Abstract

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the application of ultrasonography in pain medicine because ultrasound provides direct visualization of various soft tissues and real-time needle advancement and avoids exposing the health care provider and the patient to the risks of radiation. The machine itself is more affordable and transferrable than a fluoroscopy, computed tomography scan, or magnetic resonance imaging machine. These factors make ultrasonography an attractive adjunct to other imaging modalities in interventional pain management especially when those modalities are not available or feasible.The present article reviews the existing evidence that evaluates the role of ultrasonography in spine interventional procedures in pain management.