{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T18:03:24Z","timestamp":1790100204188,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,19]],"date-time":"2026-09-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789776000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cervical medial branch blocks (CMBBs) are widely used for chronic facet-mediated pain, yet their therapeutic role, duration of benefit, and optimal repeat intervals remain unclear.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To systematically evaluate therapeutic effectiveness, duration of benefit, and optimal repeat intervals of CMBBs for chronic cervical facet pain.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library through November 2025. Inclusion: randomized controlled trials and observational studies reporting therapeutic outcomes of CMBBs in adults. Independent dual review with quality assessment using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. Qualitative synthesis following SWiM guidelines was performed due to substantial heterogeneity in diagnostic protocols, intervention parameters, and outcome measures.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Eleven studies (4 RCTs, 7 observational; N\u2009&gt;\u20091200 patients) demonstrated that 55\u201380% of patients achieved clinically meaningful benefit (\u226550% pain relief). Median duration of analgesic effect ranged from 8\u201316 weeks, with bupivacaine showing longer duration than lidocaine. Repeated CMBBs at 3\u20134 month intervals maintained therapeutic effectiveness over 12\u201324 months without tachyphylaxis. No major complications were reported.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Moderate-certainty evidence supports CMBBs as effective therapeutic interventions providing short- to intermediate-term relief (8\u201316 weeks) for chronic cervical facet pain. An evidence-based repeat interval of 3\u20134 months maintains effectiveness without tachyphylaxis. CMBBs represent a safe, repeatable strategy, particularly when radiofrequency neurotomy is not feasible or preferred.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical Relevance<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This review provides evidence-based guidance for long-term CMBB management with practical repeat interval recommendations applicable to multidisciplinary spine and pain practice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/10538127261488130","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,19]],"date-time":"2026-09-19T13:59:28Z","timestamp":1789826368000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Therapeutic utility and long-term management strategy of cervical medial branch blocks in chronic facet-mediated pain: A systematic review"],"prefix":"10.1177","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1310-790X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aram","family":"Doo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea"},{"name":"Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-9787-4438","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Seung","family":"Park","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0404-2657","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yeon-Dong","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea"},{"name":"Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_2_2_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spinee.2007.10.005"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_3_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.36076\/ppj.2002\/5\/243"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_4_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00002508-199712000-00003"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.36076\/ppj.2009\/12\/699"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_6_2","article-title":"An update of comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for interventional techniques in chronic spinal pain. 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