Evidence suggests lumbar pain interventions are widely performed across the UK, yet high-quality national data on true complication rates and definitions remain limited.

There is currently no standardised UK framework to stratify complications or quantify procedural risk across common lumbar interventions. As a result, consenting practice, risk communication, and governance processes may vary significantly between centres.

Despite increasing procedural volume and complexity, we lack contemporary national data to clearly define complication rates and benchmark current practice.

Since variations in technique, setting, and reporting are inevitable, there is an urgent need to systematically capture real-world safety data.

This project — a collaboration between Paintrain and the Faculty of Pain Medicine — aims to:

• • Define and stratify complications related to lumbar pain procedures
• • Quantify UK complication rates
• • Capture current national practice
• • Support improved consenting, governance, and patient safety

The upcoming national survey will document both organisational practice and individual clinician experience, creating the foundation for future guidance and standardisation.

Opportunities to contribute and act as regional leads will be available.