Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided arc-edge needle-knife therapy for treatment of lumbar arthrogenic pain of lumbar facet joint after foraminoscopy by releasing the tissue around the responsible upper and lower lumbar articular processes and injecting analgesic solution.

Methods A total of 72 patients who presented with arthrogenic pain of the umbar facet joint after translaminar approach foraminoscopy were selected and divided into arc-edge needle group (n=36) and local anesthesia group (n=36)according to the random number table method. The arc-edge needle group was given ultrasound-guided arc-edge needle-knife therapy to release the tissues around the upper and lower articular processes of the responsible lumbar spine and injected analgesic solution. The local anesthesia group was performed freehand local closed-needle treatment around the upper and lower articular processes of the responsible lumbar spine in the location according to the body surface projection of AP radiographs of the lumbar spine. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were recorded before treatment, 1 day, 1 month and 3 months after treatment, respectively, and the total effective rate was calculated by the Japanese Orthopaedic Society (JOA) score.

Results The puncture time and puncture adjustment times of the arc-edge needle group were shorter or less than those of the local anesthesia group, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.01). VAS scores and ODI scores of 1 month and 3 months after treatment were better than those before treatment and 1 day after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The VAS scores and ODI scores of 1 month and 3 months after treatment in the arc-edge needle group were higher than those in the local anesthesia group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the arc-edge needle group was higher than that of the local anesthesia group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Release of periarticular tissues around the upper and lower lumbar synapses by ultrasound-guided arc-edge needle-knife therapy and injection of analgesic solution is effective in continuously relieving lumbar arthrogenic pain after foraminoscopy by releasing the tissue around the responsible upper and lower lumbar articular processes, and has positive significance in improving patients' lumbar function.