Prolonged pain relief following selective nerve root infiltration

Authors: Koning, Henk M.; Koning, Alex J.

Source: The Pain Clinic, Volume 15, Number 3, 2003 , pp. 225-233(9)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $48.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of selective nerve root infiltration with local anesthetic and steroid for low-back syndromes and to identify factors which may enhance the long-term success of this procedure.

Study-design: Survival analysis of the period of pain relief following a successful selective nerve root infiltration with local anesthetic and steroid for low-back syndromes.

Patients and Methods: A total of 102 consecutive patients were screened, who were treated with selective nerve root infiltration with local anesthetic and steroid for low-back syndromes. Patients considered as having clinical benefit from selective nerve root infiltration and who did not experience a relapse of their complaints in the follow-up period were included for an assessment by questionnaire.

Results: Two months following therapy, 48% of the patients undergoing selective nerve root infiltration with local anesthetic and steroid for low-back syndromes reported an improvement of their pain complaints. One year after selective nerve root infiltration, continuing pain relief occurred in 49% of the successfully treated patients and decreased to 41% of the patients two years after treatment.

Conclusions: Selective nerve root infiltration with local anesthetic and steroid can be a useful treatment of low-back syndromes not responding to conventional therapy, especially in patients with severe intervertebral disc space narrowing at L5-S1 on lumbar radiographs.

Keywords: nerve root infiltration; Intervertebral disc degeneration; steroids.

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156856903767650736

Publication date: 2003-09-01

More about this publication?