The American Academy of Pain Medicine      Annual Meeting Home Page     
24th Annual Meeting February 13-18, 2008 Orlando, FL
Annual Meeting Highlights
Supported by an educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc.



© 2006 American Academy of Pain Medicine
Thursday, February 14, 2008: 4:15 PM-5:30 PM
(204) Cervical Interventions
A variety of cervical injections are performed to treat axial neck and radicular pain syndromes. Interventions in the cervical spine are complex, and the complications can be devastating. This course will discuss anatomical, procedural, and management considerations as they apply to these injections. An overview of complications of cervical injections will detail the problem, including the rising use of radiofrequency (RF) procedures including pulsed RF of the DRG, joint injections, and epidurals. Anatomical correlates will be examined with relevance to complication prevention. The possible mechanisms, prevention, and treatments of vascular injury induced by particulate steroids or other potential mechanisms (cerebellar injuries from arterial dissection) will be explained. Mechanisms of direct neural injury during interlaminar epidural injections, technical issues, and prevention will be discussed. Approaches to prevent complications will be considered. Therapeutics to manage problems once they occur will also be discussed.
4:15 PM Introduction
Anthony H. Guarino, MD
4:20 PM Cervical Injections: Epidurals, Radiofrequency, and Joint Injections—Complications and Management
Anthony H. Guarino, MD
4:35 PM The Anatomy of Vascular Complications in Cervical Injections
Marc Huntoon, MD
4:50 PM Cervical-Transforaminal Epidurals: Mechanisms of Injury, Including Steroid Particulate and Vertebral Arterial Dissection
Honorio Benzon, MD
5:05 PM Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Injection: Complications and Management Decisions
James Rathmell, MD
5:20 PM Question & Answer

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