{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T06:16:04Z","timestamp":1788156964083,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788134400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Chronic musculoskeletal pain represents a global health challenge, with a substantial proportion of patients failing to achieve adequate symptom control despite conventional treatment. Interventional rheumatology units (IRUs) incorporating ultrasound-guided minimally invasive procedures have emerged as a promising strategy for the management of refractory musculoskeletal pain. However, real-world evidence regarding the performance of these units in routine clinical practice remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of an IRU in routine clinical practice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This retrospective, observational, single-center study included consecutive patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain refractory to conventional treatment, who underwent ultrasound-guided interventions at an IRU between April 2023 and February 2026. Procedures were categorized as myofascial infiltrations, shoulder procedures, erector spinae plane block, and a miscellaneous group of other procedures. The primary outcome was a clinically meaningful pain reduction, defined as a reduction of at least 2 points on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at the first post-procedure follow-up visit.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 170 patients (77.6% women; median age 61\u202fyears) were included. Overall, 125 of 170 patients (73.5%) achieved the primary endpoint, with no significant differences across procedural groups. Median NRS decreased from 7.0 [IQR, 7.0\u20138.0] to 3.0 [IQR, 2.0\u20136.0] at follow-up, corresponding to a median reduction of 4.0 points (IQR, 1.0\u20136.0;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001). Two minor adverse events (1.2%) were recorded, and 30 patients (17.6%) required repeat procedures. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, a higher baseline NRS score was the only independent predictor of a clinically meaningful response (OR 1.74, 95% CI, 1.30\u20132.34;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001). Overall, 50 patients (29.4%) required referral to another specialty, although no baseline clinical variable independently predicted this outcome. Overall, 50 patients (29.4%) required referral to another specialty, although no baseline clinical variable independently predicted this outcome; the remaining 70.6% were managed or discharged by the IRU.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive procedures performed within an IRU were associated with high rates of clinically meaningful pain reduction, and a favorable safety profile in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. These findings suggest that IRUs may have a role within multidisciplinary pain management pathways, although prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1932913","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T05:41:50Z","timestamp":1788154910000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive interventions for refractory musculoskeletal pain: a real-world study from an interventional rheumatology unit"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Maria Beatriz","family":"Paredes-Romero","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"Faculty Of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea De Madrid","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda, Infanta Sof\u00eda and Henares Hospitals Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FIIB HUIS HHEN)","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Martina","family":"Steiner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"Faculty Of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea De Madrid","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda, Infanta Sof\u00eda and Henares Hospitals Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FIIB HUIS HHEN)","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana Valeria","family":"Acosta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Israel J.","family":"Thuissard","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty Of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea De Madrid","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ana Isabel","family":"Castillo-Var\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty Of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea De Madrid","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriela","family":"Cueva-N\u00e1jera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Algarra-San Jos\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda","place":["Madrid, 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Sof\u00eda and Henares Hospitals Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FIIB HUIS HHEN)","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mar\u00eda Liz","family":"Romero-Bogado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"Faculty Of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea De Madrid","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda, Infanta Sof\u00eda and Henares Hospitals Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FIIB HUIS HHEN)","place":["Madrid, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"Trives-Folguera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sof\u00eda","place":["Madrid, Spain"]},{"name":"Faculty Of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea De 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