Comparative study of neck pain in relation to increase of cervical epidural pressure during percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy.
METHODS
A prospective study.


OBJECTIVE
By monitoring cervical epidural pressure (EP) changes throughout the procedure, we intend to discover the effect of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) on cervical epidural pressure and whether there is a correlation between posterior neck pain and increased cervical EP, which is known to have a linear correlation with intracranial pressure (ICP).


BACKGROUND
Patients sometimes complain of posterior neck pain during PELD. Due to the massive irrigation fluid used during the procedure, the possibility of increased ICP as the cause is quite strong.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients undergoing PELD with ASA physical status 1 or 2 were enrolled in this study. In all patients, a cervical epidural catheter was placed at the C6-C7 level before the procedure and was connected to a pressure transducer. Cervical EPs were monitored continuously throughout the procedure. Initial stabilized EP (EP), EP at the time of neck pain, maximal EP during the procedure, and EP at the end of the procedure were checked. Neck pain onset time from the beginning of irrigation and total irrigation time were also checked.


RESULTS
Of 28 patients, 8 patients complained of neck pain. Neck pain onset time from the beginning of irrigation was 35.6 +/- 11.3 (mean +/- SD) minutes. The EP at the time of neck pain (52.9 +/- 9.2 mm Hg) was significantly higher than the maximal EP in patients without neck pain (34.8 +/- 14.7 mm Hg). In all patients who complained of neck pain, the cervical EP at the time of neck pain showed pressures above 37 mm Hg. The maximal EP in those with neck pain (73.6 +/- 25.8 mm Hg) was also significantly higher than the EP in those without neck pain (34.8 +/- 14.7 mm Hg). In a correlation study, patients with higher maximal EPs had higher probabilities of having neck pain. In 6 of 8 patients, an abrupt increase in EP was observed after the onset of neck pain, while in the other 2 patients, the procedure ended just after neck pain appeared.


CONCLUSIONS
Neck pain occurring during PELD is associated with a highly increased cervical EP generated by continuous infusion.
Joh
Ju-Yeon
JY
Department of Pain Management, Wooridul Spine Hospital, Seoul, Korea. anejoh@wooridul.co.kr
Choi
Gun
G
Kong
Byoung-Joon
BJ
Park
Hahck Soo
HS
Lee
Sang-Ho
SH
Chang
Seong Ho
SH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004824:Epidural Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D055815:Young Adult