Evaluation of Chronic Back Pain Improvement after Single Dose of Epidural Steroid Plus Lignocaine Injection in both Genders at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi

Objective: To evaluate chronic back pain improvement after single dose of epidural steroid plus  li-  gnocaine injection in both sexes. Methods: A consecutive cases series of 65 patients having age of ³18  to 80 years and of both sexes from one institution were retrospectively studied. The study was conducted from January 2011 to July It was designed to evaluate the pain improvement after single dose of epidural steroid plus li- gnocaine injection with lumbar interlaminar technique in chronic back pain patients. Patients were di- vided into two groups, to assess the effectiveness of pain relief  following  the  injection  in  between  different age groups with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), evidence of lumber disc prolapse and non-responder to oral medication were included. Those having  red-flags  (neurosurgical  deficit)  for  surgical intervention were excluded from  the  study.  Chronic  back  pain  patients  were  treated  with  single dose of lumbar interlaminar epidural steroid  plus  lignocaine  injection.  Follow-up  visits  were  carried out to assess pain reduction by patient perception as well as decrease requirement of oral medication. Result: Out of all 65 patients, 28 were male. Mean age of 50.04 ± 14.26 range 18-80 years. After the epidural steroid plus lignocaine injection, all patients of both the groups  showed  decrease  in  pain  severity, evidenced by both patient perception  and  decrease  requirement  for  oral  medication.  There  was no gender difference. Two patients needed second injection  after  interval  of  6  months.  One  fe- male developed spinal anaesthesia after the injection, who recovered within 1 week. Conclusion: This study concludes that epidural  injection  of  steroid  plus  lignocaine  is  effective  and  safe in relieving chronic back pain in both sexes.