EVALUATION OF FACET, SACRAL AND FORAMINAL INFILTRATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN

• Main Authors: Fernando Luiz Guedes Lauda, Maurício Fernandes de Camargo, Fernando Vaguetti Lauda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Coluna (SBC)
• Series: Coluna/Columna
• Subjects: Low back pain; Adrenal cortex hormones; Analgesia, epidural.
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1808-18512017000200153&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT Objective: The difficulties of the study and the lumbago approach stem from several factors, among them, the lack of a reliable correlation between the clinical findings and image results and the fact the lumbar segment is innervated by a network of diffuse and intertwined nerves, making it difficult to accurately determine the location of pain origin. The treatment of this disease is mainly based on conservative measures (rest, analgesia, physical therapy) and only in a few cases, the option is surgical measures. Methods: In this study, we conducted an analysis of the results obtained with foraminal, sacral and facet infiltrations of corticoids in the lumbosacral spine in a period of three months in 83 patients with low back pain. Results: The patients showed a statistically significant reduction of pain (mean value) after infiltrations (sacral, foraminal and facet), according to the Visual Analogue Scale of 4 points in the immediate postoperative period, reduction of 3.9 points at 15 days, reduction of 3.5 points at 30 days, a reduction of 3.1 points at 45 days and a reduction of 2.7 points at 90 days. Conclusion: The sacral, foraminal and facet infiltrations of corticoids to control low back pain relieves short-term pain (30 days) and medium and long-term (30-90 days), when the indication is correct.