All abstracts submitted for the IPSIS Annual Meeting will be evaluated for recognition as "Best Clinical Abstract" and "Best Basic Science Abstract."
Fellows and residents are especially invited to submit their research for consideration of the Best Fellow Abstract or Best Resident Abstract Awards. To be eligible for these awards, the fellow and resident must be first investigator of their abstract submissions. Winning abstracts will be presented from the podium. Documentation of active participation in a residency or fellowship program is required.
Best Fellow Abstract and Best Resident Abstract Award winners will receive the following assistance from the Society to attend the Annual Meeting:
- Waived registration fee
- Two nights' lodging at the meeting hotel
- Up to $500 toward airfare and ground transportation
- $40 per day (up to 2 days) meal allowance
Publication in Interventional Pain Medicine
Award-winning abstracts that are subsequently accepted as manuscripts in Interventional Pain Medicine will have article processing charges covered by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society.
Annual Meeting - Best Abstract Recognition Awards
2024
2024 Award winning research abstracts presenters from left: Jason E. Mascoe, MD; David Levi, MD; John Tran, PhD; and Matthew Essman MD, DPT.
Best Resident Abstract
Jason E. Mascoe, MD: An Expanded Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation Protocol for Refractory Knee Pain using a Dual-Tined Electrode: A Technical Description and Observational Cohort Study.
Best Fellow Abstract
Matthew Essman MD, DPT: A New Fluoroscopic Technique for Radiofrequency Ablation of Thoracic Zygapophyseal Joints Using a Three-Tined Electrode: A Technical Description and Case Series.
Best Basic Science Abstract
John Tran, PhD: Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation Needle Angles: 3D Anatomy and Clinical Imaging Comparison Study.
Best Clinical Abstract
David Levi, MD: Bone Marrow Concentrate Intradiscal Injection for Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Double-blind Randomized Sham Controlled Trial.
Best ePoster 2024
Zachary L. McCormick, MD. The Impact of PROMIS Physical Function Scores on Healthcare Utilization in Patients Treated for Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain
2023
Best Resident Abstract
Tyler T. Woodworth, MD: Long-Term Treatment Outcomes and Predictors of Treatment Success Following Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Chronic Knee Pain: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study
From left: Tyler T. Woodworth, MD and Byron J. Schneider, MD
Best Resident Abstract
Margaret Riser, MD: Outcomes Associated with Guideline-Based Conservative Care for Low Back Pain
From left: Margaret Riser, MD and Byron J. Schneider, MD
Best Basic Science Abstract
Byron J. Schneider, MD and Jonathan Schmitz, MD, PhD: To Swab or Not To Swab? Isopropanol Swabs of Common Injectate Vials Do Not Decrease Microbial Burden
From left: W. Evan Rivers, DO and Byron J. Schneider, MD. Not Pictured: Jonathan Schmitz, MD, PhD
Best Clinical Abstract
W. Jerermy Beckworth, MD: Safety of Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections
From left: W. Jerermy Beckworth, MD and Byron J. Schneider, MD
Best ePoster 2023
Kim Filiatrault MD: A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing a Multi-tined Cannula and a Conventional Cannula for Cervical Radiofrequency Neurotomy: Secondary Outcomes Analysis of Clinical Efficacy
2022
2022 Award winning research abstracts presenters from left: Zachary McCormick, MD; Amir Koutp, MD; and Nolan Gall, MD. Not pictured: Valentine U. Chukwuma, MD, PhD and Alycia Amatto, MD.
Best Resident Abstracts
- Valentine U. Chukwuma, MD, PhD; Byron J. Schneider, MD. Predicting Time of Expected Positive Response to Epidural Steroid Injection for Spine Pain.
- Nolan Gall, MD; Wei-Xian Li, MD; Marc Caragea, DO; John Chan, MD; Lisa Huynh, MD; Jayme Koltsov, PhD; Matthew Smuck, MD; Joshua Levin, MD. Results of Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections Stratified by the Specialty of the Referring Physician.
Best Basic Science Abstract
Amir Koutp, MD; Johanna Petritsch, Christoph Skias, MD; Peter Grechenig; Alexandros Andrianakis, PhD; David C. Kieser, PhD; Georg C. Feigl, MD. Anatomical Topographical Investigation of the Medial
Branch of the Dorsal Thoracic Branch of the Spinal Nerve in the Segments T10 β T12.
Best Clinical Abstract
Zachary L. McCormick, MD; Barrett S. Boody, MD; Aaron Conger, DO; Katrina Harper, MS; Colton Hickman,
DO; Joshua A. Hirsch, MD; Jeffrey C. Lotz, PhD; Kevin Macadaeg, MD; Matthew Smuck, MD; Beau P. Sperry; Taylor R. Burnham, DO, MS. Patient Demographic, Clinical, and Imaging Characteristics Associated with Successful Treatment Outcomes Following
Basivertebral Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation: A Pooled Cohort Study of Three Prospective Clinical Trials.
Best Poster
Alycia Amatto, MD; Taylor Burnham, DO, MS; Masaru Teramoto, PhD; Robert Burnham, MD, MS.
The Effectiveness and Predictive Factors of Sacroiliac Joint Radiofrequency β A Practice Audit.
2021
2021 Award winning research abstracts presenters from left: Evan Berlin, MD; David Sherwood, DO; Mehul J. Desai, MD, MPH; and Robert S. Burnham, MD, Not pictured: Michiel Schepers, MD.
Best Resident Abstract
Evan Berlin, MD; David Sherwood, DO; Adam Epps, DO; James Gardner, MD; Sterling Haring, DO; Byron J. Schneider, MD. Dual Medial Branch Blocks and Progression to Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Cervical Zygapophysial Arthropathy
Best Fellow Abstract
David Sherwood, DO; Evan Berlin, MD; Adam Epps, DO; James Gardner, MD; Sterling Haring, DO; Byron J. Schneider, MD. Dual Medial Branch Blocks and Progression to Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Lumbar Zygapophysial Arthropathy
Best Basic Science Abstract
- Robert S. Burnham, MD; Bo Pan, BSc; Yazid Al Hamarneh, PhD; Alycia Amatto, MD; Ashley D. Smith PT, PhD. An Assessment of the Minimal Clinically Important Difference for the Pain Disability Quality-Of-Life Questionnaire-Spine
- Mehul J. Desai, MD and Yair I. Safriel, MD. MRI Imaging of Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation Lesions Demonstrates Consistent Lesion Size in Respective Anatomical Locations
Best Clinical Abstract
Michiel O. Schepers, MD, D. de Groot, MD; Heidi Mylenbusch, MD, PhD; E. Kleinjan; AHJ Klopper-Kes, PhD. Effectivity of Platelet Rich Plasma Injection in the Intervertebral Disc
Best Poster
- Taylor R. Burnham DO; Aaron Conger, DO; Keith Kuo BS; Joshua Lider DO; Marc Caragea, DO; Richard Kendall, DO; Shellie Cunningham, BS; Masaru Teramoto, PhD, MPH; Zachary L. McCormick MD. Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cervical Medial Branch Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Facet Joint Syndrome in Patients Selected by a Common Medial Branch Block Paradigm
- Manoj Mohan, DO; Ruopeng Sun, PhD; Christy Tomkins-Lane, PhD; Amir Muaremi, MD; Patricia Zheng, MD; Matthew Smuck, MD. Digital Biomarkers of Low Back Pain from Objectively Measured Real-Life Physical Activity
2020
Best Basic Science Abstract
Byron J. Schneider, MD; Reza Ehsanian, MD; David J. Kennedy, MD; Ameet Nagpal, MD; Jaymin Patel, MD; Patricia Zheng, MD; Zachary McCormick, MD - Precision and Accuracy of the Numeric Rating Scale
When Benchmarked Against Patient Reported Reductions in Pain: A Basic Science Study on Measuring Pain
Best Clinical Abstract
Michael B. Furman, MD, MS; Jesse J. Bernstein, MD; Lelia Gilhool, BA; Ajay R. Kurup,
BS; Christopher T. Bednarek, MD; Holden M. Caplan, BA; Byron Schneider, MD - The Incidence of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Complications Associated with Ceasing vs Maintaining Anticoagulant and /or Antiplatelet Agents for Pain Interventions
Best Fellow Abstract
Kevin Barrette, MD; Agnes Martinez-Ith; Patricia Zheng, MD; Matthew Smuck, MD - What Does the Patient with Back Pain Want? A Comparison of Patient Expectations and Physician Assumptions
Best Resident Abstract
Quinn Tate, MD; Beau P. Sperry, BA; Aaron Conger, DO; Naomi Kelley, BA; Lucas Anderson, MD; Christopher Pelt, MD; Jeremy Gililland, MD; Christopher Peters, MD; A. Michael Henrie, DO; Richard
Kendall, DO; Masaru Teramoto, PhD, MPH; Zachary L. McCormick, MD β An Expanded Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation Protocol: A Prospective Pilot Study
2019
Best Clinical Abstract
Byron J. Schneider, MD, Ameet Nagpal, MD, MS, MEd, Jaymin Patel MD, Patricia Zheng, MD, Zachary L. McCormick, MD - Patient-perceived Duration of Effect of Lidocaine and Bupivacaine Following Diagnostic
Medial Branch Blocks; A Multicenter Study
Best Resident Abstract
Reza Ehsanian MD, PhD, Byron J. Schneider, MD, Renee Rosati DO, Lisa Huynh MD, Josh Levin MD, David J Kennedy, MD β Validity of Physical Exam
Maneuvers in Diagnosis of Sacroiliac Joint Pathology; Are Physical Exams Worth the Time?
Best Resident Abstract
Iain M. Bailey, MD, William J Beckworth, MD, Benjamin A. Abramoff, MD, Laura A Ward, MSPH, Sook
K Yoon, MD, Monica B. Umpierrez, MD, Aparna Kakarala, MD - The Natural History of Cervical Radiculopathy with Soft Disc Herniations and Osteophytes
Best Poster
Justin A. Johal, BS, Caroline P. Brennick, DO,
Maxim S. Eckmann, MD, Tyler C. Roe, MD, Ameet S. Nagpal, MD, MS, MEd - Thermal Radiofrequency Ablation of Articular Nerve Branches for the Treatment of Chronic Shoulder Pain: First Case Series
2018
Best Basic Science Abstract
Anand Joshi, MD, Timothy J. Amrhein, MD, Megan Holmes, PhD, Joel Talsma, MS, Megan Shonyo, RT(R), Andrea B. Taylor, PhD - The Source and Course of the Articular Branches to the T4-T8 Zygapophysial
Joints
Best Clinical Abstract
Zachary L. McCormick, MD, Vance Lehman, MD, Christopher T. Plastaras MD, David R. Walega, MD, MSCI, Paul Huddleston III, MD, Charbel Moussallem, MD, Jennifer R. Geske, MS, David J. Kennedy,
MD, Timothy Maus, MD, Carrie Carr, MD - Low-pressure Lumbar Provocation Discography According to International Association for the Study of Pain/International Spine and Spine Intervention Society Standards Does Not Cause Accelerated Progression
of Disc Degeneration in Symptomatic Low Back Pain Patients; A 7 Year Matched Cohort Study
Best Fellow Abstract
Ben Marshall, DO, Cynthia Garvan, PhD, Christopher T. Plastaras, MD, Venu Akuthota, MD - Prognostic
Imaging Features in Acute Lumbosacral Radiculopathy with Motor Deficits
Best Resident Abstract
Rajiv Reddy, MD, David R. Walega, MD, Marc Korn, MD, David Dayanim, MD, MS, MHA, Raafay Syed, MD, Meghan Bhave,
MD, Mikhail Zhukalin, DO, Sarah Choxi, MD, Ali Ebrahimi, MD, Mark C. Kendall, MD, Robert J. McCarthy, PharmD, Dost Khan, MD, Geeta Nagpa, MD, Karina Bouffard, MD, MPH, Zachary L. McCormick, MD - A Prospective Randomized Trial of Prognostic
Genicular Nerve Blocks to Determine the Predictive Value for the Outcome of Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis
Best Poster
Anand B. Joshi MD, MHA, Jeffrey Fenoli BS,
W. Paul Segars, PhD, Brian Harrawood, Jocelyn Hoye, BS, Steve D. Mann, PhD, Megan Shonyo, RT(R), Anuj Kapadia, PhD - Patient-Specific Radiation Dose in Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Access Using Monte Carlo Simulations
2017
Best Basic Science Abstract
Georg C. Feigl, MD, Wolfgang Stelzer, MD, Rudolf Likar, MD, Christoph Skias - Anatomical Topographical Investigation of the Dorsal Thoracic Branch of the Spinal Nerve: Are There Consequences for
Techniques of Thermocoagulation?
Best Clinical Abstract/Best Fellow Abstract
Patricia Zheng, MD, Byron Schneider, MD, Joshua Levin, MD, Lisa Huynh, MD, Matthew Smuck, MD, Agnes Ith, BS, David J. Kennedy, MD
- Multi-Institutional Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Prospective Study of Intra-articular Lumbar Zygapophysial Joint Corticosteroid Injection(s) as Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain in a Selected Population
Best Resident Abstract
Brittany Bickelhaupt, MD, Maxim Eckmann, MD, Jacob Fehl, MD, Jonathan Benfield, DO, Jonathan Curley, MD, Omid Rahimi, PhD; Ameet Nagpal, MD, MS, MEd - Cadaveric Study of the Articular Branches of the Shoulder Joint
Outstanding Abstract Award
Srinivas Mallempati, MD, Bradly S. Goodman, MD, Erik A. Davis, MD, John Ye, MD, Kewei Yu, MD - Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Flow Patterns: An Analysis of the Varied Patterns Seen Using Contralateral Oblique View
2016
Best Basic Science Abstract
Michael DePalma MD, Kasra Amirdelfan MD, Hyun Bae MD, Domagoj Coric MD, Andrew Sumich MD, Tory McJunkin MD, Ken Pettine MD, Hyun Hong MD, Kee Kim MD, William Beckworth, MD, Michael Pullar, MD,
Gary Ghiselli, MD, J. Scott Bainbridge, MD, Randall Dryer, MD, Timothy Deer, MD, Roger D. Brown - A Randomized, Controlled Trial Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of Immunoselected, Allogeneic Mesenchymal Precursor Cells for Treatment
of Chronic Low Back Pain
Best Clinical Abstract
Alison Stout DO, Paul Dreyfuss MD, Nathan Swain DO, Shannon Roberts BA, Eldon Loh MD, Anne Agur PhD - Optimal Fluoroscopic Targets for Cooled Radiofrequency Neurotomy
of the Sacral Lateral Branches: An Anatomical Study
Best Fellow Abstract
Zachary L. McCormick MD, Ariana Nelson MD, Meghan Bhave MD, Sarah Choxi MD, Ali Ebrahimi MD, Mikhail Zhukalin DO, Dost Khan MD, Geeta
Nagpal MD, David R. Walega, MD - A Prospective Randomized Comparative Trial of Targeted Steroid Injection via Epidural Catheter versus Standard C7-T1 Interlaminar Approach for the Treatment of Unilateral Cervical Radicular Pain: 1-Month Outcomes
Best Resident Abstract
Ryan Mattie MD, Zachary McCormick MD, Katri Laimi PhD, MD, Mikhail Saltychev PhD, MD - Using Item Response Theory to Determine the Ability of the Numeric Rating Scale to Accurately Discriminate
Between Levels of Pain Severity in Patients with Radicular or Musculoskeletal Pain
2015
Best Basic Science Abstract
Gaetano Scuderi, MD, Pasquale X Montesano, MD, Jason Cuellar, MD, PhD - Improving Response to Treatment for Patients with DDD by the Use of Molecular Markers
Best Clinical Abstract
Allen Burton, MD, Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, Cong Yu, MD, Matthew W Doust, MD, Bradford E Gliner, MS, Ricardo Vallejo, MD, PhD, B Todd Sitzman, MD, MPH, Kasra Amirdelfan, MD, Donna M Morgan, MD, Lora L Brown, MD, Thomas L Yearwood, MD, PhD,
Richard Bundschu, MD, Thomas Yang, MD, Ramsin Benyamin, MD, Abram H. Burgher, MD, for the SENZA-RCT investigators - Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of 10 kHz High Frequency and Traditional Low Frequency
Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Back and Leg Pain: 18-Month Results
Best Fellow Abstract
Nathan Swain, DO, Alison Stout, DO, Paul Dreyfuss, MD, Shannon Roberts, BA, Eldon Loh, MD, Anne Agur, PhD -
Determining Optimal Fluoroscopic Imaging and Needle Placement for Cooled RF Neurotomy of Sacral Lateral Branch Nerves: An Anatomical Study
Best Resident Abstract
Byron Schneider, MD, Zack McCormick, MD, David
J Kennedy, MD - Comparative Effectiveness of Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections With Particulate versus Nonparticulate Corticosteroids for Lumbar Radicular Pain Due to Intervertebral Disc Herniation: A Prospective, Randomized,
Double-blind Trial: Preliminary 5 Year Follow Up Data
2014
Best Basic Science Abstract
Josef Pleticha, MD, Andreas S Beutler, MD, W Michael Hooten, MD, Timothy P Maus, MD - Interventional Gene Vector Delivery to the Peripheral Nervous System: Preclinical Testing of CT-Guided
Procedures in Pigs and Imaging Based Modeling in Humans
Best Clinical Abstract
Janna Friedly, MD, David Sibell, MD, D.J. Kennedy, MD - A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Lumbar Epidural Steroid
Injections for Spinal Stenosis
Best Poster Submission
Vance T Lehman, MD, Robert C Murphy, MD, Louis A Schenck, MS, Rickey E Carter, PhD, Geoff B Johnson, MD, Amy L Kotsenas, MD, Jonathon M Morris, MD, Mark A Nathan, MD, John T Wald, MD,
Timothy P Maus, MD - Comparison of Facet Joint Activity on 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT with Facet Joint Signal Change on MRI with Fat Suppression
Best Fellow Abstract
Lisa Huynh, MD, Matthew Smuck, MD, Ma Agnes Ith,
D.J. Kennedy MD - Does Fibronectin Aggrecan Complex Predict Response to Epidural Steroid Injection?
Best Resident Abstract
Christine A El-Yahchouchi, MD, Christopher T Plastaras, MD, Timothy P Maus, MD, Carrie
M Carr, MD, Zack McCormick, MD, Jennifer R Geske, MS, Matthew Smuck, MD, Matthew J Pingree, MD, D.J. Kennedy, MD - Complication Rates of Transforaminal and Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections: A Multi-Institutional Study
2013
Best Basic Science Abstract
Wenchun Qu, MD, Yuexiang Wang, MD, Michael Hooten, Timothy Maus, MD, & Kent Thielen, MD - Positional Dorsal CSF (dCSF) Thickness as Foundation for Adaptive Spinal Cord Stimulation
Best Clinical Abstract
D.J. Kennedy, MD, Christopher Plastaras, MD, Ellen Casey, MD, Christopher Visco, MD, & Matthew Smuck, MD - A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multi-Center, Prospective Study Comparing the
Efficacy of Particulate vs Non-Particulate Corticosteroids for Lumbar Radiculitis due to an Acute Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
Best Poster Submission
Christine El-Yahchouchi, MD, Timothy P. Maus, MD, & JT
Wald, MD - Transforaminal Epidural Steroids Injections: Does Immediate Post-Procedure Response Predict Longer Term Response?
Best Fellow Abstract
Susan DiStasio, DO & Boqing Chen, MD, PhD - Vascular Penetration
Rate in Kambin's Triangle
Best Resident Abstract
Christine El-Yahchouchi, MD & Timothy Maus, MD - Non-inferiority of Dexamethasone in Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections
2012
Best Basic Science Abstract
William Jeremy Beckworth, MD, Rajiv Sood, MD, Arin Fredrick Katzer, DO - Anomalous Location of the Vertebral Artery in Relation to the Neural Foramen - Implications for Cervical Transforaminal
Epidural Steroid Injections
Best Clinical Abstract
Ajay Patel, MD, Agnes Martinez-Ith, & Matthew Smuck, MD - A Prospective Analysis of Alternative Needles for Lumbosacral Transforaminal Epidural Injections
Best Poster
Chris Reiser, PhD, Farrokh Aghaeepour, MS, & Timothy Stegman, MA - Reducing Lead Migration with the Clikβ’ Anchor - A Real-World Review
Best Fellow Abstract
Scott
Hamilton, MD & D.J. Kennedy, MD - Comparison of Live Fluoroscopy and Digital Subtraction Angiography for Detection of Intravascular Injection with Medial Branch Blocks
Best Resident Abstract
Casey Fisher,
MD, David Fish, MD - Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Spinal Injections (LTFESI) for Lumbar Radiculopathy: Comparing functional outcomes to contrast spread patterns