Clinical Analysis on the Efficacy of Stellate Ganglion Block in the Patients with Cervical Herniated Intervertebral Disc

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of stellate ganglion block for the patients with cervical Herniated Intervertebral Disc (HIVD). METHOD: Forty patients with cervical HIVD were selected for the study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups Group 1, stellate ganglion block of 1% lidocaine and physical modalities (n=20); Group 2, only physical modalities as a control group (n=20). Group 1 patients were treated with the stellate ganglion block of 1% lidocaine three times over two-week period. The efficacy of stellate ganglion block was assessed with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on pre- and post-stellate ganglion blocks and with Rubin scale (success rate). RESULTS: The VAS scores of post-block were significantly lower than pre-score (p<0.05) in both groups, but there was no statistically significance between the two groups. After treatment, Rubin scale was with excellent or good in 75% in group 1 and in 50% in group 2, but there was no statistically significance. CONCLUSION: The stellate ganglion block may be effective therapeutic method for patient with cervical HIVD. But the efficacy of additional stellate ganglion block for cervical HIVD remains controversial.