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Skills Lab/Hands-On Demonstration Proposals

Session Name: Skills Labs

1805 - Cervical and Thoracic Interventional Ultrasound Applications (SOLD OUT)

Friday, November 17, 2023
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM CT
Location: CC R02
In-Person Ticketed

    Skills Lab Director(s)

  • EH

    Eric R. Helm, MD

    Assistant Professor
    University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

    • Skills Lab Faculty(s)

  • Matthew D. Maxwell, MD (he/him/his)

    Assistant Professor
    University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, VA Medical Center
    PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania

    No financial relationships to disclose.

  • Adam Susmarski, DO

    Sports and Spine Medicine
    Loras College
    Dubuque, Iowa

    No financial relationships to disclose.

  • Adam Lewno, DO

    Assistant Professor
    University of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

  • Ryan Nussbaum, DO

    Assistant Professor/Sports Medicine Fellowship Director
    University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    No financial relationships to disclose.

There are a variety of fluoroscopic procedures in the cervical and thoracic spine which can also be performed safely with ultrasound guidance. There is an emerging need for interventional physiatrists to perform these key procedures under ultrasound guidance, given the growing availability of high quality bedside ultrasound imaging. This skills lab will teach ultrasound techniques to effectively perform stellate ganglion, greater occipital nerve, cervical facet joint, intercostal nerve, and costotransverse joint injections. Why is this lab needed? There are a variety of fluoroscopy guided interventional pain procedures that can also be performed safely under ultrasound guidance, which may provide several benefits during spinal procedures. The use of ultrasound decreases radiation exposure to the physician and patient. Ultrasound can be performed in a point-of-care office setting, eliminating the use of more costly surgical centers and improving efficiency of care. It can also be more widely utilized in other sites of patient care, such as training rooms in the athletic population. Ultrasound also offers improved visualization of key neurovascular and myotendinous structures that fluoroscopy does not, potentially providing greater patient comfort and improved safety profile.

a. Interventional ultrasound station. Stellate ganglion injection at the C6 vertebral body level
b. Interventional ultrasound station. Greater occipital nerve injection at the C2 vertebral body level
c. Interventional ultrasound station. Cervical facet joint injection, lateral access position
d. Interventional ultrasound station. Intercostal nerve injection, posterior approach at the angle of the rib
e. Interventional ultrasound station. Costotransverse joint injection, posterior approach

Learning Objectives:

  • describe the diagnostic ultrasound techniques to effectively visualize the stellate ganglion, greater occipital nerve, cervical facet joint, intercostal nerve, and costotransverse joints
  • demonstrate competency in performing an ultrasound guided stellate ganglion, greater occipital nerve, cervical facet joint, intercostal nerve, and costotransverse joint injection
  • define the clinical patient scenarios in which to effectively utilize each ultrasound guided procedure
  • describe the special anatomical considerations when performing these ultrasound guided spine interventions, especially the structures to avoid when performing these procedures