Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections Followed by Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy to Prevent Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation

• Published in: Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) Mass.), 2014-07, Vol.15 (7), p.1100-1108
• Main Authors: Helvoirt, Hans, Apeldoorn, Adri T., Ostelo, Raymond W., Knol, Dirk L., Arts, Mark P., Kamper, Steven J., Tulder, Maurits W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Cohort Studies; Combined Modality Therapy; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Female; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Herniated Disc; Humans; Injections, Epidural; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - drug therapy; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - rehabilitation; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; MDT; Medical research; Middle Aged; Pain - drug therapy; Pain - etiology; Pain - rehabilitation; Pain Measurement; Physical Therapy Modalities; Surgery; Transforaminal Epidural Injection; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1526-2375; 1526-4637
• DOI: 10.1111/pme.12450

Study Design Prospective cohort study. Objective To report the clinical course of patients with MRI‐confirmed lumbar disc herniation‐related radicular noncentralizing pain who received transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) and mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT). Summary of Background Data Noncentralizing symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation are associated with poor outcome. Commonly used treatments for these patients include TESIs and MDT. No study has evaluated the outcome of combining both strategies. Methods Consecutive candidates for herniated lumbar disc surgery with noncentralizing chronic pain were eligible. Patients received TESIs followed by MDT. The primary outcomes were pain severity in the leg, disability (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire for Sciatica), and global perceived effect (GPE). Outcomes were measured at baseline, discharge, and 12 months. Linear mixed‐models and McNemar's tests were used to analyze outcome data. Results Sixty‐nine patients receive TESIs. After TESIs, symptoms were resolved completely in 11 patients (16%). In these patients, symptom resolution was maintained at 12 months. A second subgroup of 32 patients (46%) reported significantly less pain after TESIs and showed centralization with MDT reassessment (significant reductions in leg pain and disability [P