Abstract

Background: Lumbar facet joint syndrome (FJS) is a common cause of chronic lower back pain and may substantially impair quality of life. Intravenous laser irradiation of blood (iLIB) has shown potential for treating musculoskeletal disorders because of its tissue penetration and favorable safety profile. Although its clinical effects have been investigated in acute and osteoarthritic pain, its efficacy in chronic lumbar FJS has not yet been established. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of iLIB in patients with lumbar FJS. Patients and methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial enrolled 65 patients with chronic LFS confirmed by medial branch block and scintigraphic evidence. Participants were randomly assigned to the iLIB group (n = 34) or the diclofenac group (n = 31). Pain and functional status were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Roland-Morris questionnaire (RMQ) before treatment and at 3 months. The iLIB group received treatment for 3 months (10 days/course, with 3 courses), while the diclofenac group received oral diclofenac (daily dose = 20 mg) for the same period. Results: At 3 months, both groups demonstrated significant improvement in pain, with a greater net change in the iLIB group (3.47 ± 1.46 vs. 1.91 ± 1.42, p = 0.008). Significant between-group differences were also observed in ODI scores (18.75 ± 14.83 vs. 8.80 ± 3.57, p = 0.028) and RMQ scores (4.68 ± 3.48 vs. 2.16 ± 2.38, p = 0.012). Conclusion: Intervention of iLIB appears to be an effective and safe treatment for chronic lumbar LFS, with a low incidence of side effects. It provides meaningful pain relief and improves lumbar function and neuropathic symptoms. These findings suggest that iLIB may represent a promising non-invasive alternative to interventional pain procedures for chronic LFS.

Keywords

lumbar facet joint syndrome, visual analogue scale, oswestry disability index, roland-morris questionnaire, scintigraphic rehabilitation