title: Injection of collagenase in the treatment of herniated lumbar disk. Initial clinical report.
abstract: Twenty-nine patients with persistent, low back and sciatic pain received intradiscal collagenase at a single abnormal disk space after two months of conservative therapy and two weeks of additional bed rest. Complete pain relief was achieved in six patients (21%), notable relief in 12 (42%), moderate in six (21%), and slight in one. Four patients (14%) who obtained no improvement by enzyme injection recovered after extruded disk fragments were removed from the spinal canal during a later operation. Pain relief after collagenase injection took place gradually over a two- to three-week period and was associated with some early backache. Improvement then continued at a slower rate for two to three months. There were no adverse effects of enzyme therapy. Injected disk spaces usually showed radiological narrowing.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003012:Microbial Collagenase