Catheter Virtual Lumbar Discectomy (The Epidural Cocktail For Lumbar Disc Prolapse)A New Minimally Invasive Alternative, On An Outpatient Bases

Abstract

Objective: After six weeks of conservative management of lumbar disc disease patients, some will require additional treatment. Surgeries available do not offer clear, safe options free of complications in all cases. Moreover, some reported postoperative complications are more difficult to treat than the original illness. I am offering a new modified intervention for such cases. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of epidural cocktail instillation for lumbar degenerative diseases, confirm its indications, and evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients. Material & Methods: A total of 60 patients underwent epidural cocktail injection for lumbar degenerative indications by one neurological spine surgeon. The mean follow-up was 12 months. Follow-up images were taken to assess results and determine any injection-related issues. Results The most prevalent diagnoses were disc bulges, especially in young patients. The mean severity of LBP decreased by 80% at 3-month follow-up, and 60% at 1-year follow-up. The results of pain relief were best at early follow-up visits. Forty two patients (70%) stated that they would undergo this procedure again. Conclusion Despite the supposed argument, the current study provides evidence that immediate pain relief and increase in function can be provided by the epidural cocktail injections with a very low rate of morbidity. The follow-up images showed, in addition to the clinical improvement, definite structural decrease of the disc bulges in a way as if discectomy was done without any surgical or interventional intervention. That is why the name catheter virtual discectomy (CVD) was introduced.