Role of Caudal Epidural Steroid in the Management of Low Back Pain in Telangana Population, India

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition seen in adult patients causing significant functional andpsychological disability in addition to the variable amount of pain.Method: Every patient was studied with x-rays, MRI of lumbosacral region and degree of pain was assessed byVAS scale. Routine blood investigations were done in every patient to rule out any otherpossible causes for thiscondition.Results: 95 patients with LBP were included in this study. Among these 16 (16.8%) either had annular tears orno abnormality in MRI leading to acute back pain, 14 (14.7%) had spondylolisthesis, 25 (26.5%) had lumbar canalstenosis, 40 (42.1%) had degeneration of disc. As per VAS (Visual Analogue Score) at 3rd month -14 patients of AcuteLBP, 12 patients with spondylolisthesis, 13 patients with lumbar canal stenosis, 26 patients with degenerative discdisease had significant improvement.Conclusion: Present study used X-rays, MRI and VAS analogue Scorein addition to systematic clinical examinationfor evaluation of the low back pain patients. Patients who were resistant to conservative measures were treatedwith epidural steroid injection before subjecting them to any surgical intervention. Thisis important for theOrthopedicians to treat such patients efficiently with minimal invasion without subjecting them to more invasivemeasures like open surgical procedures.