[Epidural injection therapy with local anaesthetics versus cortisone in the lumbar spine syndrome: a prospective...

The prospective randomised double-blind study analyses follow-up data of the therapeutic effects of cortisone versus local anaesthetics using an injection technique close to the nerve root in chronic lumbar spine syndrome.

57 patients were included with an MRI-assured clinical diagnosis. The study was performed over a 6-month period to evaluate long-term effects. The level of disability (ODQ), the quantitative and qualitative sensations of pain were separately determined. The t-test was used for interval and relation variables, the chi (2) test for nominal variables and the Mann-Whitney-U-test for ordinal variables.

Significant differences in favour of cortisone were not found for the measured parameters at any time. An improvement for all parameters was seen in both groups between the time t0 and the definite times t1 and t2.

The advantage of a combined injection of local anaesthetics and cortisone versus a injection of local anaesthetics alone in epidural-peridural technique in the inpatient treatment of the chronic lumbar spine root compression syndrome could not be detected.