Clinical Outcome of Pulsed-Radiofrequency Combined With Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection for Lumbosacral Radicular Pain Caused by Distinct Etiology

Liuqing Yang; Yuzhao Huang; Jiahui Ma; Zhenxing Li; Rui Han; Gangwen Guo; Yuncheng Ni; Rong Hu; Xuebin Yan; Haocheng Zhou; Dong Huang

doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.683298

Clinical Outcome of Pulsed-Radiofrequency Combined With Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection for Lumbosacral Radicular Pain Caused by Distinct Etiology

Front Neurosci. 2021 Jul 28:15:683298. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.683298. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Liuqing Yang¹, Yuzhao Huang², Jiahui Ma¹, Zhenxing Li¹, Rui Han¹, Gangwen Guo¹, Yuncheng Ni¹, Rong Hu¹, Xuebin Yan¹, Haocheng Zhou^{1

3}, Dong Huang^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pain, The Third Xiangya Hospital and Institute of Pain Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Department of Orthopedics, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Hunan Key Laboratory of Brain Homeostasis, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

Background: Lumbosacral radicular pain (LSRP) can be caused by disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery syndrome. The clinical effect of pulsed-radiofrequency (PRF) combined with transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TESI) for radiating pain in different population remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical recordings of patients with LSRP caused by different etiologies, who underwent PRF and TESI treatment. The primary clinical outcome was assessed by a 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pre- and post-treatment.

Results: A total of 34 LSRP patients were identified and classified into 3 subgroups (disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery syndrome). The overall immediate pain reduction was 4.4 ± 1.1 after procedure. After a median follow-up of 9.5 months, the VAS decreased from 6.5 ± 1.0 to 2.4 ± 1.9 at the last follow-up.

Conclusion: PRF combined with TESI is an effective approach to treat persistent LSRP in distinct population.

Keywords: chronic pain; disc herniation; failed back surgery syndrome; neuromodulation; pulsed radiofrequency; radicular pain; spinal stenosis; transforaminal epidural steroid injection.