EFFICACY OF EPIDURAL CORTICOSTEROID INJECTION (ESI) IN PATIENTS WITH FAILED CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA

Abstract

Objectives:  To record efficacy of Epidural Corticosteroid Injection (ESI) in patients with failed conservative treatment of low back pain and sciatica.

Material & Methods:  The design of this study was prospective study and this study was conducted at DHQ Hospital Mirpur. The duration of this study was from July 2023 to December 2023. We included 70 cases between 20-70 years of age of either gender and presenting with low back pain and/or with a clinical diagnosis of unilateral sciatica and those with failed conservative treatment. The epidural steroid injection was given with the help of experienced/trained anesthetist. The subjects were evaluated for Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and those having >45% ODI and/or pain score >5 after one week were repeated with epidural steroid injection. Maximum two injection were given. Subsequently, all cases were followed up after 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months to determine the efficacy of ESI.

Results: Out of 70 cases, 44.29%(n=31) were male and 55.71%(n=39) were females, mean+sd was calculated as 53.19+8.64 years. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at baseline was 59.11+6.34 and 31.25+4.19 at 6 months, p value was <0.05 i.e 0.00. Pain score at baseline was 7.77+2.41 at baseline and 3.87+1.09 at 6 months, p value was <0.05 i.e 0.00.

Conclusion: Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is found to be an effective management modality for controlling low back pain and sciatica in failed conservative treatment while no side effects during this trial were observed.