Abstract
We evaluated percutaneous lumbar discectomy with nerve blocking therapy in a cohort of 455 patients with herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. They either had or did not have authorized indications, but all had recurrent pain or only transient relief after discography followed by steroid injection. Within 10 days after surgery, nerve blocking was conducted, if necessary.
Result: The overall effectiveness rate was 59.8% after 1 month and 68.6% after 6 months. The effectiveness rates in 216 patients with authorized indications were 69.9 and 79.6% after 1 and 6 months, respectively. For the other 239 patients associated with lipping and/or vertebral canal narrowing, the rates were 50.6 and 58.6%, respectively. Post operative nerve blocking was particularly effective for zygapophyseal joints and lumbar sympathetic ganglions.
Conclusion: Additive and synergic effects of percutaneous lumbar discectomy with nerve blocking yielded adequate improvement in almost half of the patients without authorized indications.
