Objective: To assess the effectiveness of intradiscal electrothermal treatment (IDET) combined with epidural steroid injection for discogenic lumbago-leg pain.
Methods: Fifty-nine patients with discogenic lower back pain and radical pain underwent IDET and CT guided spinal cord epidural steroid injection (Limethason). Thirty-eight patients with discogenic lower back pain and radical pain underwent IDET only. The clinical efficacy was observed within 1 week, 1 week-1 month, 1 - 3 months, and 3 - 6 months after the treatment.
Results: The efficacy rates within 1 week, 1 week-1 month, 1 - 3 months, and 3 - 6 months after the treatment of the IDET plus epidural steroid injection group were 71%, 55%, 81%, and 89% respectively, and those of the IDET only group were 55%, 34%, 76% and 87% respectively. The efficacy rate 1 week-1 month postoperatively of the IDET plus epidural steroid injection group was significantly higher than that of the IDET only group (chi(2) = 4.375, P < 0.05), and the efficacy rates at other time points were not significantly different between these 2 groups.
Conclusion: IDET combined with epidural steroid injection relieves post-IDET edema and induces pain more effectively.