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. 2009 Dec 24:3:121-4.
doi: 10.2174/1874325000903010121.

Effect of interlaminar epidural steroid injection in acute and subacute pain due to lumbar disk herniation: a randomized comparison of 2 different protocols

I D Gelalis  1 , E Arnaoutoglou, E E Pakos, A N Politis, M Rapti, T A Xenakis, G Papadopoulos
Affiliations

Effect of interlaminar epidural steroid injection in acute and subacute pain due to lumbar disk herniation: a randomized comparison of 2 different protocols

I D Gelalis et al. Open Orthop J. .

Abstract

In order to assess the efficacy of epidural steroid injections (ESI) in acute and subacute pain due to lumbar spine disk herniation, we conducted a randomized trial, comparing 2 different protocols. Fourty patients with radicular pain due to L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc herniation were assigned to receive either 3 consecutive ESI every 24 hours through a spinal catheter (group A) or 3 consecutive ESI every 10 days with an epidural needle (group B). All patients had improved Oswestry Disabilty Index (ODI) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain scores at 1 month of follow-up compared to baseline, while no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups. The scores for group B were statistically significant lower at 2 months of follow-up compared to those of group A. The improvement in the scores of group B was continuous since the mean scores at 2 months of follow up were lower compared to the respective scores at 1 month. Protocol B (3 consecutive ESI every 10 days) was found more effective in the treatment of subacute pain compared to Protocol A (3 consecutive ESI every 24 hours) with statistically significant differences in the ODI and VAS scores at 2 months of follow-up.

Keywords: Low back pain; disk herniation; epidural injections.; lumbar spine; radicular pain.

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
ODI values for protocols A and B.
Fig. (2)
Fig. (2)
VAS values for protocols A and B.
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