MINT [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== MINT ======

It is unclear how effective [[RFD]] is at relieving [[LBP]]. [[NICE]] 2016 (NG59) guidance
((CG59 N. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management. In: NICE, editor, 2016. Available at: http://nice.org.uk/guidance/ng59))
on [[LBP]] recommends [[RFD]] as a treatment option for people with suspected facetogenic LBP who fail to respond to [[conservative treatment]] and respond positively to [[medial branch]] blocks (MBBs). A subsequent (2017) Dutch study ([[MINT]]), found no benefit from the addition of RFD to an exercise program for people with LBP who had responded positively to a MBB
((Juch JNS, Maas ET, Ostelo R, et al. Effect of radiofrequency denervation on pain intensity among patients
with chronic low back pain: the mint randomized clinical trials. JAMA 2017; 318(1): 68–81.)).

The MINT study was heavily criticized for multiple reasons, including the utilization of a sub-optimal [[Lumbar facet joint denervation technique]], which was inconsistently delivered
((Provenzano DA, Buvanendran A, de Leon-Casasola OA,
et al. Interpreting the MINT randomized trials evaluating radiofrequency ablation for lumbar facet and sacroiliac joint pain: a call from ASRA for better education, study
design, and performance. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2018;
43(1): 68–71.))
((Van Kuijk SMJ, Van Zundert J, Hans G, et al. Flawed
study design and incorrect presentation of data
negatively impact potentially useful interventional
treatments for patients with low back pain: a critical
review of JAMA’s MinT study. Pain Pract 2018; 18(3):
292–295.)).