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Orthopedic Research Online Journal

Epidural Steroid Injection: Efficacy in Low Back Pain with Radiculopathy

  • Open or CloseSajjad Ahmad1, Hammad Ali shah2, Israr Ahmad3*

    1Assistant Professor Orthopaedics, Saidu Medical College, Pakistan

    2District Orthopaedic Surgeon, Pakistan

    3Associate Professor Orthopaedics, Khyber Girls Medical College, Pakistan

    *Corresponding author: Israr Ahmad, Associate Professor Orthopaedics, Khyber Girls Medical College Peshawar, Pakistan

Submission: December 27, 2021Published: January 06, 2022

DOI: 10.31031/OPROJ.2022.09.000706

ISSN : 2576-8875
Volume9 Issue2

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder affecting 80% of people at some point in their lives with incidence of lower limb radiation more than 40%. Male suffer more than female with ratio of 2.6:1. The socioeconomic impact of Low Back Pain (LBP) is massive. LBP is the most common cause of disability in younger age group i.e. age below 45 years. With conservative measures, the symptoms show significant improvement within a few weeks from onset. LBP is the second most frequent reason to visit a physician for a chronic condition, the fifth most common cause for the hospitalization, and the third most frequent reason for a surgical procedure.

Objective: The objective was to determine the short-term efficacy of epidural steroid injection in the treatment of low back pain with radiculopathy.

Patient and method: A descriptive case series comprising of 181 patients was done at Hayatabad medical complex Peshawar from February 2018 to March 2019. Patients were selected through non probability sampling who wanted conservative management of low back pain with epidural steroid injection after taking informed consent. The procedure was done by same surgeon in same environment of Operation theater under aseptic measures.

Result: A total of 181 patients were studied, out of which 120 (66.3%) were male and 61 (33.7%) were female. Age ranged from 20-60 years with mean age of 43.51±8.13 years. Epidural steroid injection was effective in 56.9 % (n=103 ) patients, with at least one grade improvement in their symptoms, and in 43.0% (n=78) patients was not effective.

Conclusion: Epidural steroid injection is a simple, cost-effective and minimally invasive treatment for sciatica (radicular pain). The complications are negligible and temporary and the procedure is highly useful in patients who desire quick relief. But it is not useful in long-term pain relief or obviates the need for surgery.

Keywords: Chronic low back pain; Anterior longitudinal ligament; Radicular pain; Epidural steroid injection

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