title: A controlled study of caudal epidural injections of triamcinolone plus procaine for the management of intractable sciatica.
abstract: The management of sciatica due to lumbar nerve root compromise remains controversial, probably because few well-controlled studies of conservative management have been performed. This preliminary study assesses the efficacy of epidural injections of 80 mg triamcinolone acetonide plus 0.5% procaine hydrochloride in saline, administered via the caudal route, in a double-blind, placebo controlled trial with 1 year follow-up. Twenty-three patients were entered into the study: 12 received treatment and 11 placebo. The active group showed significant pain relief (P = 0.02) and a significant increase in mobility (P = 0.01) at 4 weeks, which resulted in improved quality of life (P = 0.02). At 1 year, subjective and objective measures improved in both groups. The improvement was greater in the actively treated group, but only the objective assessment (straight leg raise) was statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Royal Free Hospital, London.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hillier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D008297:Male; D011343:Procaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012585:Sciatica / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D014221:Triamcinolone; D011343:Procaine