A Comparative Study of Endoscopic versus Percutaneous Epidural Neuroplasty in Lower Back Pain: Outcomes at Six-Month Follow Up.

Background and Objectives: Endoscopic epidural neuroplasty (EEN) facilitates adhesiolysis through direct epiduroscopic visualization, offering more precise neural decompression than that exhibited by percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (PEN). We aimed to compare the effects of EEN and PEN for 6 months after treatment with lower back and radicular pain in patients. Methods: This retrospective study compared the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores in patients with low back and radicular pain who underwent EEN or PEN with a steering catheter. The medical records of 107 patients were analyzed, with 73 and 34 undergoing EEN and PEN, respectively. Results: The VAS and ODI scores decreased at all time points after EEN and PEN. VAS and ODI scores decreased more in the EEN group than those in the PEN group at 1 day and 1- and 6-months post-procedure, indicating superior pain relief for both lower back and radicular pain through EEN. Conclusions: EEN is a superior treatment of pain control than PEN in lower back and radicular pain patients.

Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided selective nerve root block for acute cervical disc herniation.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical outcomes of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided selective nerve root block (SNRB) for severe arm pain caused by acute cervical disc herniation. METHODS: The authors analyzed the data obtained from 25 consecutive patients who underwent CT fluoroscopy-guided SNRB for severe arm pain, i.e., a visual analogue scale (VAS) score of 8 points or more, caused by acute soft cervical disc herniation. Patients with chronic arm pain, motor weakness, and/or hard disc herniation were excluded. RESULTS: The series comprised 19 men and 6 women whose mean age was 48.1 years (range 35-72 years). The mean symptom duration was 17.5 days (range 4-56 days) and the treated level was at C5-6 in 13 patients, C6-7 in 9, and both C5-6 and C6-7 in 3. Twenty-three patients underwent SNRB in 1 session and 2 underwent the procedure in 2 sessions. No complications related to the procedures occurred. At a mean follow-up duration of 11.5 months (range 6-22 months), the mean VAS score and NDI significantly improved from 9 and 58.2 to 3.4 and 28.1, respectively. Eighteen out of 25 patients (72%) showed successful clinical results. Seven patients (28%) did not improve after the procedure, and 5 of these 7 underwent subsequent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. CONCLUSION: CT fluoroscopy-guided SNRB may play a role as a primary conservative treatment for severe arm pain caused by acute cervical disc herniation.

Unipedicular vertebroplasty for osteoporotic compression fracture using an individualized needle insertion angle.

OBJECTIVES: In the classic transpedicular vertebroplasty, second needle placement is routinely required at the same level. However, each patient requires a different needle insertion angle (NIA) at each site. Therefore, precise NIA is required for each fractured vertebral body. In this study, we performed a unipedicular approach through an individualized NIA that had been evaluated with axial magnetic resonance imaging before vertebroplasty. METHODS: We performed percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) on 103 vertebrae in 63 consecutive patients (50 women, 13 men; mean age, 70.4 y; range, 56 to 87 y). Before PVP, we measured the NIA for each pedicle. If leakage occurred without midline cement crossover, the unipedicular approach was stopped and changed to a bipedicular approach. RESULTS: PVPs were performed from T7 to L5. We considered a successful outcome of a unipedicular approach to be when the center of vertebral body was filled with cement. Successful unipedicular PVPs were performed in 93 (90.3%) of 103 cases. Fifty-six of 63 patients were included for the pain evaluation. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.0001) between pre-visual analog scale (VAS) (84) and post-VAS (postoperatively at 1 d-VAS: 32, postoperatively at 1 mo-VAS: 34, and postoperatively at 3 mo-VAS: 37). No statistically significant difference was found between pre-NIAs and post-NIAs. A positive correlation was found between pre-NIAs and post-NIAs. DISCUSSION: Unipedicular PVP can be performed safely, provided the operator has a thorough knowledge of the bony landmarks and the anatomy of the pedicle. A unipedicular approach could be considered first using individualized NIA at each vertebral level.