Korean J Pain.  2014 Jan;27(1):3-15. 10.3344/kjp.2014.27.1.3.

Epidural Lysis of Adhesions

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
  • 2Department of Anesthesiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, USA.
  • 3Department of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Psychiatry & Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
  • 4Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Baltimore, USA. scohen40@jhmi.edu

Abstract

As our population ages and the rate of spine surgery continues to rise, the use epidural lysis of adhesions (LOA) has emerged as a popular treatment to treat spinal stenosis and failed back surgery syndrome. There is moderate evidence that percutaneous LOA is more effective than conventional ESI for both failed back surgery syndrome, spinal stenosis, and lumbar radiculopathy. For cervical HNP, cervical stenosis and mechanical pain not associated with nerve root involvement, the evidence is anecdotal. The benefits of LOA stem from a combination of factors to include the high volumes administered and the use of hypertonic saline. Hyaluronidase has been shown in most, but not all studies to improve treatment outcomes. Although infrequent, complications are more likely to occur after epidural LOA than after conventional epidural steroid injections.

Keyword

epidural adhesiolysis; epidural lysis of adhesions; epidural neuroplasty; epiduroscopy; failed back surgery syndrome

MeSH Terms

Constriction, Pathologic
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
Loa
Radiculopathy
Spinal Stenosis
Spine
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Sequential antero-posterior fluoroscopic images demonstrating successful epidural lysis of adhesions. (A) Arrow A illustrates the initial contrast injection demonstrating needle entry into the caudal canal. Arrow B shows the radiopaque navigable catheter inserted to the level of hardware at lumbar spine. (B) Initial contrast injection demonstrating filling defects on the left side and cephalad to the hardware, suggesting epidural adhesions. (C) Contrast reinjection after lysis of adhesions demonstrating improved spread cephalad (A) and to the left (B) of the initial injection pattern.


Cited by  7 articles

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Ann Rehabil Med. 2015;39(6):941-949.    doi: 10.5535/arm.2015.39.6.941.

Effectiveness of continuous hypertonic saline infusion with an automated infusion pump for decompressive neuroplasty: a randomized clinical trial
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Korean J Pain. 2019;32(3):196-205.    doi: 10.3344/kjp.2019.32.3.196.

Epidural Steroid Injection: A Need for a New Clinical Practice Guideline
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Korean J Pain. 2014;27(3):197-199.    doi: 10.3344/kjp.2014.27.3.197.

Acute Motor Weakness of Opposite Lower Extremity after Percutaneous Epidural Neuroplasty
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Korean J Pain. 2015;28(2):144-147.    doi: 10.3344/kjp.2015.28.2.144.

The outcome of epiduroscopy treatment in patients with chronic low back pain and radicular pain, operated or non-operated for lumbar disc herniation: a retrospective study in 88 patients
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Korean J Pain. 2018;31(2):109-115.    doi: 10.3344/kjp.2018.31.2.109.

Percutaneous epidural balloon neuroplasty: a narrative review of current evidence
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Involvement of the spinal γ-aminobutyric acid receptor in the analgesic effects of intrathecally injected hypertonic saline in spinal nerve-ligated rats
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