J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  1999 Apr;23(2):365-370.

A Clinical Analysis for the Long Term Effect of the Epidural Injections with Steroid and Local Anesthetics in Low Back Pain Patients

• Lee JG
• Woo BS
• Kim MJ
• Lee SG

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the long term effect of the epidural injections with steroid and local anesthetics in the low back pain patients by assessments of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and several relating factors that influence good results. METHOD: Seventy two low back pain patients with or without sciatica were treated with epidural injections of weekly steroid (methylprednisolone acetate) and daily local anesthetics (lidocaine and bupivacaine) for 2 weeks via an epidural catheter. The efficacy of the epidural injections was assessed with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score at the day of admission (VAS1), discharge (VAS2) and during the long term follow up period (VAS3)(mean : 14 months, 8~24 months).
RESULTS
VAS1, VAS2 and VAS3 were 6.22+/-2.03, 3.36+/-1.49, and 3.39+/-1.45 respectively. VAS2 and VAS3 were significantly different with VAS1 (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Epidural injections of steroid and local anesthetics are effective not only in the short term period, but also in the long term peroid for patients with low back pain with or without sciatica.

Keyword

Epidural injection; Low back pain; Long term effect; Visual analog scale

MeSH Terms

Anesthetics, Local*
Catheters
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Injections, Epidural*
Low Back Pain*
Sciatica
Visual Analog Scale
Anesthetics, Local