title: Interlaminar epidural corticosteroid injection in the treatment of lumbosciatic pain: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: Lumbosciatica is a common condition which is associated with significant pain and disability. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of interlaminar epidural corticosteroid infiltration in the treatment of lumbosciatic pain. We evaluated retrospectively sixty patients with lumbosciatic pain that a sequential interlaminar epidural administration of 40 mg methylprednisolone in 7 mL bupivacaine 0.25% was administered. Each patient was interviewed and asked about the pain according to visual analogue scale (VAS) and the level of disability according to World Health Organization previously of the epidural corticosteroid infiltration and, 1 and, 6 months after starting therapy. Independently of the initial VAS value, all patients decreased their pain score after one and six months of follow-up (p<0.05). However, only the patients with a low grade of disability showed an improvement after the treatment (p<0.05). No side effects were reported after epidural corticosteroid injections. In conclusion, interlaminar epidural corticosteroid injection in association with local anesthetic may be useful, at least for six months, as additional therapy of the conservative management of lumbosciatic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato Santiago
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Sebastião
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gusmão
authors.forename: Josefino Fagundes
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Marcelo Pereira
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012585:Sciatica / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D002045:Bupivacaine