Should We Offer Thoracic Medial Branch Block Instead of Thoracic Vertebroplasty for Pain Management?

The study presented in Poster 250 explored whether thoracic medial branch block could be a more effective pain management technique compared to thoracic vertebroplasty. The case of a 68-year-old man with a T6 osteoporotic wedge fracture was highlighted, where he experienced significant pain relief immediately after undergoing a thoracic medial branch block. The study suggested that the vertebral body might not be the primary pain generator and proposed that medial branch block could be a simpler and effective alternative for managing pain in patients with spinal wedge fractures. The authors emphasized the need for further research to validate these findings and potentially shift clinical practice towards using medial branch blocks for such conditions.