J Korean Med Sci.  2013 Mar;28(3):461-465. 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.3.461.

Clinical Outcomes of Epidural Neuroplasty for Cervical Disc Herniation

• Park EJ
• Park SY
• Lee SJ
• Kim NS
• Koh DY

• KMID: 1786946
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2013.28.3.461

Abstract

Cervical disc herniation is a common disorder characterized by neck pain radiating to the arm and fingers as determined by the affected dermatome. This condition has a favorable prognosis, but pain can have a serious detrimental impact on daily activities. Epidural neuroplasty has been applied as a treatment option for cervical disc herniation; however, no study has addressed the clinical outcomes. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical outcomes of epidural neuroplasty on 128 patients for the treatment of cervical disc herniation. To measure pain-related disabilities over time, the changes of pain scores in neck and arm were evaluated using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and the neck disability index (NDI). Compared with preprocedural values, the pain NRS of neck and arm demonstrated significant improvement at day 1, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure (P < 0.001). Likewise, the NDI was significantly reduced at 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure (P < 0.001). There were no serious complications. Cervical epidural neuroplasty shows good clinical outcomes in the treatment of cervical disc herniation and can be considered a treatment modality for cervical disc herniation refractory to conservative treatment.

Keyword

Cervical Disc Herniation; Epidural; Neuroplasty

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Amides/administration & dosage
Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage
Cervical Vertebrae/*radiography
Dexamethasone/administration & dosage
Disability Evaluation
Epidural Space/radiography
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase/therapeutic use
Injections, Epidural
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/radiography/*surgery
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Neck Pain/drug therapy
Pain/drug therapy
Pain Measurement
Questionnaires
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment Outcome
Amides
Anesthetics, Local
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Dexamethasone
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Antero-posterior fluoroscopic view showing a catheter inserted in the affected neural foramen. The contrast dye fully escapes via lateral runoff through the neural foramen along the neural sheath after proper adhesiolysis.

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