Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.8(4) > 1035989

Shim, Song, Kim, Ha, Chae, Kim, and Kim: The Selective Spinal Nerve Root Block as Predictors of Outcome of Operative Treatment in the Lumbar Spine

Abstract

Purpose

The selective spinal nerve root block is one of the preoperative diagnostic tool to identify and confirm the lesion site of primary cause of pain. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the correlation between diagnostic selective spinal nerve root blocks and outcome following surgical treatment of selected levels of both lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) and spinal stenosis.

Material and Method

In a total 341 selective nerve root blocks in 169 patients who were diagnosed as lumbar HIVD and spinal stenosis from Jan. 1993 to Jun. 1997 with performed in a retrospective study, two groups of patients were chosen for this study. The result of pain change of selective nerve root block were judged by Denis’ pain scale, the endresult selective spinal nerve root and operative treatment used by Kim's criteria.

Result

1. The endresults of selective spinal nerve root block, excellent and good results were 64 cases (67.3%) in lumbar HIVD group and 50 cases (67.5%) in spinal stenosis group. The endresults of selective spine surgery, at last follow up, excellent and good results were 82 cases (86.2%) in lumbar HIVD group and 56 cases (75.7%) in spinal stenosis group.

Result

2. The predictive value of selective spinal nerve root block was 68.4% in lumbar HIVD group and 74.3% in spinal stenosis group. In addition, statistical analysis with regression analysis, to show any significant correlation between the selective spinal nerve root block results and the outcome of operative treatment, especially in spinal stenosis group.

Conclusion

The selective spinal nerve root block is one of the valuable procedure that helpful and predictors of outcome selective operative treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.

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Table 1.
Pain scale (by Denis et al 1984)
P1 No pain
P2 Occasional minimal pain with no need for medication
P3 Moderate pain with occasional medication but no interruption of work or significant change in activities of daily living
P4 Moderate to severe pain with frequent medication and occasional absence from work or significant change in activities of daily living
P5 Constant or severe incapacitating pain, chronic medication
Table 2.
Criteria for clinical results (Kim, 1986)
Excellent – Complete relief of pain in back and lower limbs
– No limitation of physical activity
– Analgesics not used at all
– able to squat on floor
Good – Relief of most of pain in back and lower limbs
– able to return to accustomed employment
– Physical activities slightly limited
– Analgesics used only infrequently
– able to squat on the floor
Fair – Partial relief of pain in back and lower limbs
– able to return to accustomed employment with
limitation or return to lighter work
– Physical activities definitely limited
– Mild analgesic medication used frequently
– Mild limitation to squat on the floor
Poor – Little or no relief of pain in back and lower limbs
– Physical activities greatly; limited
– unable to return to accustomed employment
– Analgesic medication used regularly
– unable to squat on the floor
Table 3.
End-result of selective nerve root block (Kim's criteria)
HIVD spinal stenosis
Excellent 10 (10.5%) 11 (14.8%)
Good 54 (56.8%) 39 (52.7%)
Fair 27 (28.4%) 14 (18.9%)
Poor 4 (4.3%) 10 (13.6%)
Total 95 (100%) 74 (100%)

HIVD∗ : Herniated Intervertebral Disc

Table 4.
End-result of operative treatment (Kim's criteria)
HIVD spinal stenosis
Excellent 20 (21.0%) 10 (13.6%)
Good 62 (65.2%) 46 (62.1%)
Fair 11 (11.5%) 12 (16.2%)
Fair Poor 11 (11.5%) 2 (2.3%) 12 (16.2%) 6 (8.1%)
Total 95 (100%) 74 (100%)

HIVD∗ : Herniated Intervertebral Disc

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