Effectiveness of Selective Nerve Root Block on the Need for Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spine - A Minimum 5 Years Follow up -

Dae Moo Shim; Tae Kyun Kim; Sung Kyun Oh; Yun Hong Choi; Suk Jung Lee

doi:10.4055/jkoa.2009.44.1.118

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Shim, Kim, Oh, Choi, and Lee: Effectiveness of Selective Nerve Root Block on the Need for Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spine - A Minimum 5 Years Follow up -

Orginal Article

Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association

Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association 2009; 44(1): 118-122.

Published online: 23 February 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2009.44.1.118

Effectiveness of Selective Nerve Root Block on the Need for Surgical Treatment of Lumbar Spine - A Minimum 5 Years Follow up -

Dae Moo Shim, M.D., Tae Kyun Kim, M.D., Sung Kyun Oh, M.D., Yun Hong Choi, M.D., Suk Jung Lee, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Korea Wonkwang Institute of Clinical Medicine, Iksan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to Sung Kyun Oh, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 1142, Sanbon-dong, Gunpo 435-040, Korea. Tel: +82.31-390-2224, Fax: +82.31-390-2244, niceo@daum.net

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness of a selective nerve root block (SNRB) in patients with sciatica before surgery through a more than 5 year follow up.

Materials and Methods

Between January 2000 and December 2000, patients with sciatica, who were recommended to undergo surgery to diagnose and treat sciatica by other clinics or at our hospital, were selected to undergo SNRB before surgery. Among them, 69 patients were followed up for 5 years. The analysis was based on the patients' medical records and telephone interviews, and the treatment results in the SNRB group and operation group were analyzed using Kim's criteria and the Visual Analog Scale score.

Results

Among the 69 patients, there was no improvement in symptoms in 37 patients after SNRB. Therefore, they underwent surgery. The symptoms of the remaining 32 patients were improved by SNRB. Overall, younger patients and those with a longer symptom duration required surgery.

Conclusion

SNRB was performed on patients with sciatica who were scheduled to undergo surgery. Some patients showed improvement in their symptoms in the long term. Therefore, SNRB should be considered as a treatment option prior to surgery.

Keywords: Sciatica, Selective nerve root block, 5 year follow up

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Operation Ratio of Disease

^*, operation; ^†, herniated intervertebral disck.

Table 2

Comparision of Clinical Results

^*, visual analog scale; ^†, selective nerve root block.

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