Conservative treatment for patients with discogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy: results of a prospective follow-up

Surgical treatment as accelerated functional recovery for discogenic radiculopathy has been proven to have advantages over medical treatment, the efficiency of which remains debatable. Objective: to investigate the efficiency of combination conservative treatment in patients with discogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy. Patients and methods. Thirty patients (12 men and 18 women; mean age, 39.5±2.2 years) with discogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging were followed up. All the patients underwent combination conservative treatment (epidural glucocorticoid administration, analgesic therapy, and motor mode correction). They were surveyed using questionnaires (numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), Oswestry disability index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the 12-Item Short Form (SF-12) of Quality of Life (QoL) Questionnaire on admission to the clinic, at 7-14 days after treatment (pain intensity and functional status), and in the long-term period (at 3, 6 and 12 months) after discharge. At baseline, the patients were severely disabled due to pain syndrome. The average Oswestry index was 57.9±3.7%, the back and leg pain intensity scores were 6.5±0.6 and 6.9±0.5, respectively, as evidenced by NPRC. The majority of patients were found to have the combined musculoskeletal sources of pain, such as a myofascial component in 56.7% and sacroiliac joint dysfunction in 43.3%. In these cases, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants were additionally used. Results. The conservative treatment resulted in a statistically significant clinical improvement with a preserved positive effect in the long term: at 1 year, the average Oswestry index was equal to 16.6±3.9%, the back and leg pain intensity scores were 1.7±0.5 and 1.6±0.5, respectively, as shown by NPRC (p<0.001 vs baseline). Within a year, only one female patient required surgical treatment; regression of large extrusions and sequesters, the average initial size of which reached 11.1 mm, was observed in 9 cases. Conclusion. The findings reflect the efficiency of conservative treatment and the expediency of detecting mixed musculoskeletal disorders and their correction in discogenic radiculopathy.

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