[Interventional pain treatment in Austria : Results of a survey among specialized pain therapists].

Authors

Markus Köstenberger, S Leis, B Ganser, W Pipam, J Benrath, R Likar

Published in

Schmerz (Berlin, Germany). Aug 24, 2026. Epub Aug 24, 2026.

Abstract

Interventional procedures are an integral component of multimodal pain management; however, their clinical use and indications remain controversial due to heterogeneous evidence regarding their efficacy. Until now, no systematic data have been available on the prevalence and clinical practice of interventional pain management techniques in Austria.
The aim of this study was to assess the current clinical practice of interventional pain management in specialized pain centers in Austria and to discuss these findings in the context of the available evidence.
An anonymous, web-based questionnaire was distributed to specialized pain physicians holding the Austrian diploma in "Specialized Pain Therapy" (Spezielle Schmerztherapie). Participants were surveyed regarding the frequency of use, procedural techniques and indications for interventional pain management procedures. The questionnaire included sympathetic and sensory nerve blocks, neuraxial techniques, intrathecal drug delivery, spinal cord stimulation, auricular vagus nerve stimulation and botulinum toxin injections.
Of the 51 pain centers contacted, 22 participated in the survey (response rate: 43.1%). The most frequently performed procedures were selective nerve root blocks, facet nerve blocks and plexus blocks. Sympathetic blocks and neuromodulation techniques were used less frequently. Most procedures were performed using anatomical landmarks and ultrasound guidance, while imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopy (C-arm guidance) were used selectively. The leading indications were neuropathic pain syndromes and conditions with a neuropathic pain component, particularly radicular back pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), postherpetic neuralgia and cancer-related pain.
Interventional pain management is widely used in specialized pain centers in Austria, particularly for selected neuropathic pain syndromes. These findings highlight the importance of interventional techniques as part of multimodal pain management while also illustrating the discrepancy between their widespread clinical use and the limited supporting evidence. Structured patient selection and further high-quality scientific evaluation of interventional pain management procedures are warranted.

PMID:
42635761
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 25 Aug 2026.

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