Chymopapain. A 10-year, double-blind study

Abstract

Sixty patients with sciatica from lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were entered into a double-blind study. Following a randomized schedule, 30 patients were treated with intradiscal chymopapain and 30 patients with intradiscal normal saline. At 10 years, with the patients still unaware of the treatment given, 80% of the chymopapain patients regarded the injection to be successful, compared with 34% for the saline group (P = 0.0006). Laminectomy was required in 20% of the chymopapain patients, compared with 47% of the saline patients (P = 0.028). Seventy-seven percent of the chymopapain group was assessed by a blinded independent observer to be at least moderately improved, compared with 38% for the saline group (P = 0.004). The results of this double-blind study at 10 years demonstrate a sustained therapeutic effect of chymopapain in the treatment of patients with sciatica from lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse.