About
This deep dive into advanced interventional pain management is designed to equip interventional radiologists with the knowledge and skills needed to perform a range of procedures for treating patients with pain. The availability and evolution of these procedures have rapidly expanded in the last decade in response to growing demand.  

This comprehensive, self-paced 7-week course includes a blend of lectures, podcasts, case-based learning modules, technique descriptions, evidence, and supplementary materials focused on practice building. 

Course objectives
Learning objective 1: Logically organize and describe the rapidly expanding number of available procedures to treat patients with pain in interventional radiology.   
Learning objective 2: Provide context and practice building guidance for interventional radiologists interested in meeting growing demand for advanced interventional pain procedures, including associated clinical care.   
Learning objective 3: Provide selection criteria, efficacy evidence, and technique descriptions of procedures performed in interventional radiology for the management of patients with pain.   

Curriculum
Week 1: Spine Injections and Augmentations - Epidurals (transforaminal, midline, cervical, lumbar, CT, fluoro) Plexus injections, synovial cysts, intercostal nerves, facet injections, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, implantable augmentation devices.  

Faculty: John Smirniotopoulos, MD, Charles Gilliland, MD, FSIR     

Learning objective 1: Understand the importance and utility of a dermatomal map and be able to isolate the patient’s affected culprit dermatome(s) using physical exam and a thorough pain history such that interlaminar ESI, transforaminal ESI, facet injections, synovial cyst interventions, and more may be used to specifically manage pain generators.   

Learning objective 2: Discuss the indications, technique, evidence, evolution, and application of spinal augmentation techniques.  

Learning objective 3: Understand the relevant anatomy, technique, and tools required to perform the variety of blocks in and around the spine.?  

Week 2: Spine Ablations - BVNA, Medial Branch, Pulsed RF?  

Faculty: Junjian Huang, MD?  

Learning objective 1: Understand indication and technique for medial branch block and ablation.?  

Learning objective 2: Understand indication and technique for basivertebral nerve ablation.?  

Learning objective 3: Discuss differences between standard, cooled, and pulsed RF.?  

Week 3: Tumor Ablations - Spine, Non-Spine?  

Faculty: Alan Alper Sag, MD?  

Learning objective 1: Discuss indications, tools, and procedure for vertebral body malignancy.?  

Learning objective 2: Discuss indications, tools, and procedure for extra-spinous malignancy.?  

Learning objective 3: Briefly discuss practice building with oncology, orthopedics, and palliative care to grow this field.?  

Week 4: Nerve Interventions - Neoplastic, Non-neoplastic (knees, hips, shoulders, cryo, alcohol via cross sectional guidance)?  

Faculty: Felix Gonzalez, MD; J. David Prologo, MD, FSIR, 

Learning objective 1: Discuss indications and procedure steps for genicular nerve block/ablation, hip nerve block/ablation, sacroiliac joint nerve block/ablation, shoulder nerve block/ablation.?  

Learning objective 2: Discuss nerve ablations and neurolysis for pudendal, intercostal, mixed nerves as well as celiac/splanchnic plexus, superior hypogastric plexus, ganglion impar in the setting of cancer.??  

Learning objective 3: Explore the mechanisms of effect of neurolytic options (cryo, alcohol, heat), their pros and cons, applications, and outcomes – including potential neuroregeneration)?

Week 5: Spine Implantables - stimulators and pumps.??  

Faculty: J. Dana Dunleavy, MD; Dr. Jorge Zoltchenko?  

Learning objective 1: List the options for spinal implantables (stimulators and intrathecal pumps). Understand the indications and work-up of patients who may benefit from them.?  

Learning objective 2: Understand technique for placement of a spinal cord stimulator and the relevant follow-up.?  

Learning objective 3: Understand technique for placement of a intrathecal pump and the relevant follow-up.?  

Week 6: Biologics and Embotherapy??  

Faculty: Osman Ahmed, MD 

Learning objective 1: List the different injectable biologic agents (platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, stem cells, amniotic membrane-based products, etc), and their applicable targets/disease states.??  

Learning objective 2: Explore beyond our borders how biologics are being used and marketed through famous athletes and/or celebrities and potential evidence-based applications for the interventional radiologist.??  

Learning objective 3: Identify the disease states (and the relevant clinical work-up), embolization targets, and procedural techniques for MSK embolotherapy.?  

Week 7: Practice Building??  

Faculty: Shantanu Warhadpande, MD  

Learning objective 1: Descaribe the opportunities for interventional radiologists to enter the pain management space.?  

Learning objective 2: Delineate techniques for building referral patterns to interventional radiology for the management of pain.?  

Learning objective 3: Provide mitigation strategies to manage competition, address demand, and establish kinetic longitudinal care models for an advanced interventional pain practice.?