Percutaneous Lysis of Epidural Adhesions

Abstract

Percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis, lysis of epidural adhesions, percutaneous neuroplasty, or epidural neurolysis is an interventional pain management technique which emerged during the latter part of the 1980s. It is becoming established as a common treatment modality in managing chronic low back pain that is nonresponsive to other modalities of treatment. While epidural adhesions most commonly result following surgical intervention of the spine, leakage of disc material into the epidural space following an annular tear, or an inflammatory response can also result in the formation of epidural adhesions. Even though advanced technology, including computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, have made significant advances in the diagnosis of epidural fibrosis, it is believed that epidural adhesions are best diagnosed by performing an epidurogram. Percutaneous lysis of epidural scar tissue, followed by the injection of hypertonic saline neurolysis, has been shown to be cost effective in multiple studies. This review discusses various aspects of percutaneous nonendoscopic adhesiolysis and hypertonic saline neurolysis including clinical effectiveness, complications, rationale, and indications.