New FactFinder on Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets for Lumbar Medial Branch Blocks

Myth:  Therapeutic anticoagulation (AC) and antiplatelet agents (APA) should be discontinued prior to lumbar medial branch blocks (LMBB) due to hemorrhagic risks of clinically significant neurological complications.

Fact: A clinically significant neurological complication due to hemorrhage has never been reported in association with a LMBB procedure, when performed according to practice guidelines.  Conversely, the published literature demonstrates a quantifiable risk of serious thrombotic complications when discontinuing therapeutic AC or APA for spinal injections.