A Comparative study to evaluate the effectiveness of lumbar epidural local anaesthetic injection with or without corticosteroid in managing chronic low back pain

Abstract

The aim was to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of lumbar epidural local anaesthetic injections with and without corticosteroids in managing low back pain. We studied a 100 patients to assess effectiveness of epidural injections with local anaesthetics (bupivacaine 0.25%) with or without steroids with regards to subjective outcomes as per pain relief by using VAS (visual analogue scale) and McGill Pain Questionnaire and objective outcomes (assessed by Straight Leg Raising test [SLR]) at the same time points - baseline prior to treatment, 3 hours after epidural injection, at 6 weeks, at 3 months. The adverse effects or complications of epidural injection, if any were noted. We concluded that the inclusion of steroids did not provide any additional benefit compared with injection of local anesthetic alone. However epidural steroid should be considered before surgical intervention. After early adequate pain control, rehabilitation can be effective and function can be restored.