J Korean Neurotraumatol Soc.  2007 Dec;3(2):82-86. 10.13004/jknts.2007.3.2.82.

Lumbar Dorsal Ramus Block for Low Back Pain

• Kim KT
• Park SW
• Nam TK
• Kim YB
• Hwang SN
• Min BK

• KMID: 2162866
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.13004/jknts.2007.3.2.82

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to establish the benefits and prognostic factors of lumbar dorsal ramus block (DRB) for low back pain.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was done with the data obtained from 344 patients with low back pain. The lumbar dorsal rami of L3, 4, 5 were blocked with 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride and methylprednisolone acetate. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was evaluated at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months and compared with pretreatment values. It was considered to be successful when the VAS grade at 3 months was improved more than 50%.
RESULTS
The patients had underlying disorders like as sprain (172), spinal stenosis (67), lumbar fracture (36), herniated lumbar disc (35), acute post-operative pain (8), and chronic post-operative pain (26) with success rate of 62.8%, 22.4%, 58.3%, 22.9%, 87.5%, and 34.6%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
In sprain, the patients in young age (<60 years) and without leg pain showed good response to DRB.

Keyword

Low back pain; Lumbar dorsal ramus block; Prognostic factor

MeSH Terms

Bupivacaine
Dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole
Humans
Leg
Low Back Pain*
Methylprednisolone
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Stenosis
Sprains and Strains
Bupivacaine
Dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole
Methylprednisolone