Open Access, Peer-reviewed
pISSN 2093-4378
eISSN 2093-4386
    J Korean Soc Spine Surg. 2004 Mar;11(1):48-54. Korean.
    Published online Mar 31, 2004.
    https://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2004.11.1.48
    Copyright © 2004 Korean Society of Spine Surgery
    Original Article

    The Usefulness of Selective Spinal Nerve Root Block

    Dae Moo Shim, M.D., Tae Kyun Kim, M.D., Ha Heon Song, M.D., Son Soo You, M.D. and Jae Duek Cho, M.D.
      • Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
    • Address reprint requests to Dae Moo Shim, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, #344-2 Sinyoung-dong, Iksan, Chunbuk, 570-711, Korea. Tel: 82-63-850-1255, Fax: 82-63-850-1257, Email: osshim@wonkwang.ac.kr

    Abstract

    Purpose

    A retrospective study on the usefulness of selective spinal nerve root block among lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD), spinal stenosis and postoperative syndrome over 10 years.

    Material and Method

    From a total 1195 patients, whose symptoms were not improved by conservative treatment, 505 treated by selective nerve root block were divided into 3 groups; 150 (29.7%) with HIVD, 313 (62.0%) with spinal stenosis and 42 with postoperative syndrome, and were followed up from Oct. 1992 to Dec 2001. The degree of pain and activity were evaluated by a visual analogue scale method at the out-patient department or through telephone interviews.

    Results

    The end-results of selective spinal nerve root block, with more than 50% reduction in pain occurred in 380 (75.3%) of the 505 patients. The effectiveness was greater in young patients with HIVD than elderly patients with spinal stenosis. After discharge, 160 patients (31.7%) needed no other treatment: 14 (31.0%) with an extrusion type HIVD and 17 (20.0%) with spondylolisthesis. The only 98 patients (19.4%) needed a surgical procedure after selective spinal nerve root block.

    Conclusion

    Selective spinal nerve root block in patients with lower back and radiating pain is a valuable conservative treatment to quickly improved symptoms and avoid surgical procedures and the continuous administration of drugs.

    Keywords
    HIVD; spinal stenosis; postoperative syndrome; spinal nerve root block

    Tables

    Table 1
    Disease and sex distribution of the patients

    Table 2
    Disease and age distribution of the patients

    Table 3
    Symptom distribution

    Table 4
    Number of nerve block according to disease

    Table 5
    Reduction of pain after nerve block (Visual analogue scale)

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    MeSH Terms
    Aged
    Humans
    Intervertebral Disc
    Interviews as Topic
    Outpatients
    Retrospective Studies
    Spinal Nerve Roots*
    Spinal Nerves*
    Spinal Stenosis
    Spondylolisthesis
    Metrics
    Share
    Tables
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