INTRODUCTION: Low-back pain is a common clinical presentation of herniated lumbar disc. The incidence of low back pain is high in our
country due to difcult working and living environment. The initial treatment of low back pain is conservative. Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is
being slowly established as a simple, effective and minimally invasive treatment modality. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of
epidural steroid injection for low back and radicular pain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS :This is a Prospective observational study. It was carried out on the patients presenting with low back pain due to
herniated lumbar disc not responding to conservational management and had Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) proven lumbar disc prolapsed
at different level. Injection Methyl prednisolone 80 mg and 2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine was diluted in 8 ml of normal saline and injected into the
affected lumbar epidural space. The functional status of the patient and the severity of pain were evaluated before injection and after injection
during the follow-up period by using Ostrewy disability index and visual analogue score.
RESULTS: Fifty six patients received the epidural steroid injections, among them three patients did not came for regular follow up till six months
and six patients required surgery . remaining forty seven were analyzed , among them 27(55.44%) were male and 20(42.55%) were female.
The functional status and pain response of the patients were improved signicantly during all the follow-up periods (p < 0.001). The success rate of
this study was 83.92%. No major complications were encountered.
CONCLUSION:The ESI is a simple, safe, effective and minimally invasive modality for the management of lumbar radicular pain.
Epidural Steroid Injection in the Management of Patients with Subacute or Chronic Low Back Ache with Radiculopathy due to Herniated Disc
