Outcome of transforaminal nerve root block injection for lumbar radiculopathy

Abstract

Introduction: Lumbar radiculopathy is defined as a clinical syndrome of back and leg pain accompanied by sensory, reflex, or motor deficits in a nerve root distribution. Epidural injection of steroids has a significant therapeutic role in mitigating the inflammatory component of Lumber radiculopathy. Trans-foraminal approach under image guidance enables targeted drug delivery. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the results of selective nerve root blocks with corticosteroids in the management of lumbar radiculopathy.Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients clinically and radiological (MRI) diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation with backache and radiculopathy, who failed to respond to conservative therapy for a duration of 6 weeks were given c- arm guided root block for the respective nerve root and the results were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Scale (ODI).Results: The initial VAS was 8.01±0.9 which was reduced to 3.97±0.4 at the final follow-up of 6 months. The initial average SLR was 43.42±10.99 which was increased to an average of 67.78±6.23% at the final follow-up. The initial Oswestry Disability Scale (ODI) score was 82.10±3.8 which was reduced to 40.90±6.5 at the final follow-up. Conclusion: Selective nerve root block is an easy and safe method with better short-term, mid-term, and long-term pain relief and improvement in functional disability in cases of lumber intervertebral disc herniation.