Efficacy of selective nerve root block in the management of lumbar radicular leg pain: A prospective study in Indian population

Abstract

Lumbar rdiculopathy is a very common problem encountered in day to day practice of every orthopaedic surgeon. Management of this problem varies from only conservative management to complete surgical decompression. Spinal steroid injections also play a role in the management of low to moderate grade of disc disease. Selective nerve root block (SNRB) is a form of directed steroid injection around a particular nerve root. In this study we have evaluated the efficacy of SNRB in a single level disc disease. We found that SNRB is an effective intermediate form of treatment between conservative management and Surgery. Though it produces a significant improvement in pain and disability scores initially, after three months there are chances of recurrence for which surgical management would be required.