Medical Interventions

Question 1

What are neuromuscular blockers used for?

Answer 1

Neuromuscular blockers are used in surgery and emergent situations.

Question 2

Who benefits from spasmolytics/anti-spasmodics like Flexeril and Baclofen?

Answer 2

Patients with muscle spasm due to overexertion and patients with spasticity.

Question 3

What types of medications are classified as anti-inflammatory medications?

Answer 3

Opioids (e.g., Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Codeine, Morphine, Fentanyl) and NSAIDs (e.g., Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Celebrex, Meloxicam).

Question 4

Who benefits from anti-inflammatory medications?

Answer 4

Patients experiencing pain and/or inflammation.

Question 5

What are neuropathic medications used for?

Answer 5

Treating neuropathic conditions such as nerve-based pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia.

Question 6

Who benefits from neuropathic medications like SSRIs, SNRIs, and anticonvulsants?

Answer 6

Patients with neuropathic conditions.

Question 7

What is a trigger point injection?

Answer 7

An injection of anesthetic into locally painful and spasmed muscular tissue.

Question 8

Who benefits from trigger point injections?

Answer 8

Individuals with myofascial dysfunction.

Question 9

What is a facet joint injection?

Answer 9

An injection of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication into the facet joint.

Question 10

What is an epidural steroid injection?

Answer 10

An injection of anesthetic and steroid medication into the foraminal space.

Who benefits = Individuals with chemical sensitization of the nerve root.

Question 11

What is a stellate ganglion block?

Answer 11

An injection of anesthetic around the Stellate Ganglion.

Who benefits = Individuals with sympathetic sensitization.

Question 12

What is a medial branch block (MBB) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA)?

Answer 12

MBB is a test for medial branch irritation; RFA is heat cauterization of the medial branch.

Who benefits = Patients with facet-based pain that is unrelieved by other treatments.

Question 13

What is kyphoplasty?

Answer 13

Balloon distention and bone-cement fill of a fractured vertebral body.

Who benefits = Patients with thoracic compression fractures.

Question 14

What is indirect decompression?

Answer 14

Insertion of a small medical device between the spinous processes to pry the vertebrae apart.

Who benefits = Patients with foraminal stenosis.

Question 15

What is a spinal cord stimulator?

Answer 15

A medical implant that provides continuous low-level stimulation of the nervous system to block pain signaling.

Who benefits = Patients with long-standing nerve-based pain.

Question 16

What is a discectomy?

Answer 16

Excision of herniated disc material, sometimes with partial laminotomy.

Who benefits = Patients with disc protrusion, prolapse, or extrusion causing leg pain.

Question 17

What is the difference between a laminotomy and a laminectomy?

Answer 17

Laminotomy is partial removal of the lamina; laminectomy is full removal of the lamina.

Who benefits = Patients with stenosis causing leg pain.

Question 18

What is disc replacement?

Answer 18

Removal of the disc and vertebral endplate with surgical implantation of an artificial disc.

Who benefits = Patients with severe disc degeneration not candidates for fusion.

Question 19

What is spinal fusion?

Answer 19

Surgical approach to remove the pathologic disc and/or lamina, with hardware to stabilize and create a bony fusion of the vertebrae over time.

Who benefits = Patients with significant segmental degeneration or objectifiable instability.