Clinical profile of patients with lumbar disc prolapse

Abstract

The motion in the lumbar spine is divided between five motion segments, although a disproportionate amount of the motion is in the lower segments (L3-L4 and L4-L5). The two lowest discs (L4-L5 and L5-S1) take the most strain and are the most likely to herniate. This can cause lower back pain and possibly numbness that radiates through the leg and down to the foot (sciatica). Written informed consent for participation in the study was obtained from all the subjects. After the patient’s informed consent was obtained, 150 patients with lumbar disc prolapse were subjected to epidural steroid infiltration out of which 101 underwent IL procedure and 49 underwent TF epidural steroid injections under the fluoroscopic guidance according to surgeons preference. As per my study out of the total 150 patients, 105(70%) improved in their symptoms only with epidural steroid and 45 patients (30%) proceeded to surgery, which was statistically significant.