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Fluoroscopically guided interlaminar needle for lumbar disc herniation: a series of 43 patients.

Ann Saudi Med. 2019 Nov-Dec;39(6):417-421

Authors: Ahmed A, Kang A, Hyung-Joon J

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the most common cause of back and leg pain. We developed a specially designed needle and a minimally invasive interventional procedure to treat LDH.
OBJECTIVES: Assess outcomes of procedure and describe our methodology and clinical application.
DESIGN: Case series.
SETTING: A chronic pain management center.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with LDH underwent fluoroscopically guided interventional interlaminar needling using a specially designed curved round needle. The outcome measures were evaluated three times: before the intervention and at 6 and 12 months after the intervention.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
SAMPLE SIZE: 43 patients.
RESULTS: Six months after the intervention, the VAS pain score decreased by 5.1 (2.2) points and the ODI decreased by 30.7% (16.6%) compared to baseline. Twelve months after the intervention, the VAS pain score decreased by 6.2 (1.7) points and the ODI decreased by 36.9% (15.2%) compared to baseline.
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that fluoroscopically guided interventional interlaminar needling has clinical significance in managing pain resulting from LDH.
LIMITATIONS: This was an exploratory case series study. Additional studies and randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the technique compared to other treatments.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

PMID: 31804131 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]