Abstract

MEDEL, P. et al. Evaluation of functionality and pain intensity before and after a transformial steroid injection in a preliminary sample of patients with lumbar radiculopathy due to a disk hernia. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2007, vol.14, n.3, pp.197-203. ISSN 1134-8046.

Objective: To evalUate the level of improvement in the functionality and pain intensity in a preliminary sample of patients with compressive lumbar radiculopathology due to disk hernia who received a transforaminal steroid injection (TSI) under fluoroscopic guidance. Material and Method: From October to December 2006, patients experiencing back pain due to radiculopathy secondary to a lumbar disk hernia were selected. These diagnoses had to have been corroborated clinically and by a magnetic resonance image. Furthermore, these were patients that responded poorly to conservative management. Pain intensity was evaluated by Visual Analog Scale Analogy (VAS) and the functionality by the Oswestry Questionnaire before the TSI and 7, 14 and 30 days thereafter in all of the patients included. Results: Fourteen (14) patients were included; whereby twelve were women (87.5%) and two were men (14.3%). The average age was 62 ± 12.8. The VAS score prior to the procedure averaged 74.0 ± 17.0. Significant differences were observed 7 days (VAS 4.64 ± DE 22.4); after 14 days (VAS 45.0 ± 17.0); and after 30 days (VAS 46.4 ± 25.9) after TSI with a p< 0.05. This was not the case for functionality in which there were no significant differences in Oswestry Questionnaire for all of the patient’s before-after comparisons of the aforementioned intervals. Conclusions: The results obtained in this preliminary study suggested that ITE may effectively affect pain reduction at 7,14 and 30 days; but, not so for the functionality Índex during the same intervals of the evaluated time

Keywords : Low back pain; radiculopathy; transforminal injections; epidural steroids.

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