The Effect of Nerve-Root Injection on Pain Relief in the Management of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a nerve-root injection for the alleviation of pain in osteoporotic vertebral fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with pain from osteoporotic vertebral fracture, without improvement after conservative treatment, were included in this study. The group consisted of sixteen women and two men, and had with a mean age of 71 years. Patients underwent a nerve-root injection with lidocane, bupivacane and depomedrol, and were allowed as many as three injections. The mean follow-up period was 13.5 months. RESULTS: The average pain scores at pre-injection, 1 month and 6 months after the injection and final follow-up were 85, 24.9, 14.1 and 17.4, respectively. According to the criteria used to assess clinical results, there was one excellent, thirteen good and four fair results. A newly developed compression fracture was noted in one patient. No complication was related to the injection. CONCLUSION: Our data show that nerve-root injections are effective at improving pain. This suggests that patients with pain from osteoporotic vertebral fractures should be considered for treatment with nerve-root injections prior to being considered for percutaneous vertebroplasty or operative intervention.