Hamza Shaikh1, Apoorv Kumar1, Thomas J Kishen2. 1. Spine Care Centre, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India. 2. Spine Care Centre, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India thomas.kishen@manipalhospitals.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy has a favorable natural history, and a selective nerve root block (SNRB) is an accepted treatment modality. This study aims to ascertain the temporal pattern of pain and disability following the administration of an SNRB in the management of lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy because there is limited evidence regarding this issue in the published literature. METHODS: This prospective study included 50 patients who underwent an SNRB and were followed for 3 months. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for back and leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) scores were collected. At the final follow-up at 3 months, the number of patients who underwent surgery was ascertained. RESULTS: Forty-two of 50 (84%) patients avoided the surgery with a reduction in mean preinjection NRS for back and leg pain from 7.5 (SD 1.33) and 7.7 (SD 1.35) to 3.1 (SD 1.69) and 2.3 (SD 1.14) (P < 0.001), respectively, within the 30 minutes after injection. The pain relief was sustained until the last follow-up. The ODI score also decreased from a mean preinjection level of 59.4 (SD 14.69) to 26.3 (SD 9.43) (P < 0.001) at 3 months. The mean preinjection depression score was higher in patients who had recurrence of pain and eventually underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Early administration of an SNRB in the course of lumbar radiculopathy is recommended as it provides instantaneous and sustained relief of back and leg pain and disability in a majority of patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SNRB should be administered early in the course of management of lumbar radiculopathy and should not be delayed until after other non-surgical modalities have failed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2. This manuscript is generously published free of charge by ISASS, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.
BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy has a favorable natural history, and a selective nerve root block (SNRB) is an accepted treatment modality. This study aims to ascertain the temporal pattern of pain and disability following the administration of an SNRB in the management of lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy because there is limited evidence regarding this issue in the published literature. METHODS: This prospective study included 50 patients who underwent an SNRB and were followed for 3 months. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for back and leg pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) scores were collected. At the final follow-up at 3 months, the number of patients who underwent surgery was ascertained. RESULTS: Forty-two of 50 (84%) patients avoided the surgery with a reduction in mean preinjection NRS for back and leg pain from 7.5 (SD 1.33) and 7.7 (SD 1.35) to 3.1 (SD 1.69) and 2.3 (SD 1.14) (P < 0.001), respectively, within the 30 minutes after injection. The pain relief was sustained until the last follow-up. The ODI score also decreased from a mean preinjection level of 59.4 (SD 14.69) to 26.3 (SD 9.43) (P < 0.001) at 3 months. The mean preinjection depression score was higher in patients who had recurrence of pain and eventually underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Early administration of an SNRB in the course of lumbar radiculopathy is recommended as it provides instantaneous and sustained relief of back and leg pain and disability in a majority of patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SNRB should be administered early in the course of management of lumbar radiculopathy and should not be delayed until after other non-surgical modalities have failed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2. This manuscript is generously published free of charge by ISASS, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.
Authors: K Daniel Riew; Jong-Beom Park; Yong-Sun Cho; Louis Gilula; Alpesh Patel; Lawrence G Lenke; Keith H Bridwell Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2006-08 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: J Karppinen; A Malmivaara; M Kurunlahti; E Kyllönen; T Pienimäki; P Nieminen; A Ohinmaa; O Tervonen; H Vanharanta Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2001-05-01 Impact factor: 3.468