[Evaluation of selective lumbar radiculography and radicular block]

We analyzed 56 patients who received selective lumbar radiculography and radicular block (88 procedures in total). The underlying conditions were spinal diseases in 43 cases, cancer pain in 6 cases, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in 5 cases and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) in 2 cases. In the spinal disease group, 24 cases showed complete pain relief and 12 cases showed partial pain relief after the therapy, with a success rate of 83.7%. In the cancer pain group, 3 cases showed complete pain relief and one showed partial pain relief (success rate: 66.7%). In the PHN group, 1 case showed complete pain relief and 2 showed partial pain relief (success rate: 60%). In the RSD group, all cases showed pain relief. When examined 3 months after this treatment, the effect had persisted in 15 cases from the spinal disease group, in 1 case from the cancer pain group, in 2 cases from the PHN group and in 2 cases from the RSD group. Selective lumbar radiculography and radicular block are useful in identifying a nerve root responsible for abnormalities. In addition, this procedure is expected to exert a long-lasting therapeutic effect in cases indicated for the procedure.