Study Questions Effectiveness of Ontario's $420M Paravertebral Block Procedure
Paravertebral blocks (PVBs), a type of nerve block procedure used for pain management, have seen Ontario's health system spend $420 million on such procedures since 2011. However, their effectiveness for chronic pain and impact on healthcare utilization and opioid prescriptions remain unclear.
A study published in the Canadian Journal of Pain found that over 26% of patients received ten or more PVBs in a year, with almost 8% receiving 30 or more. Between July 2013 and March 2018, 66,310 patients received PVBs, with 47,723 patients included in the study (DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2021.1929883).
The Lawson Health Research Institute has published a study assessing the use of PVBs for chronic pain management. Despite their widespread use in Ontario, the effectiveness of PVBs for chronic pain has not been evaluated. The study found that in the year after the first PVB, there was a significant increase in physician visits. However, no overall change in opioid dosage was found in the year after PVB initiation compared to the year before.
While PVBs are commonly used in Ontario, their long-term effectiveness and impact on healthcare resources and opioid prescriptions remain uncertain. Further research is needed to fully understand their role in chronic pain management.
