title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gogan
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002917:Chymopapain