Zapata-Gutiérrez JM, Covarrubias-Gómez A, Guevara-López U

Language: Spanish
References: 22
Page: 19-25
PDF size: 62.18 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In Mexico it has been identified that dorsopathies are among the principal causes of family medical consultation in the IMSS (Medical Institute for the Social Security). Several therapeutic approaches have been proposed; however, the 10% of the cases do not respond to the conventional treatment. Therefore, the interventionist approaches may be useful in the treatment of this kind of pain. Objective: To evaluate the analgesic effect of steroids through epidural route to treat patients suffering from low back pain. Material and methods: An ambispective and descriptive study on patients suffering from lumbalgia. In a retrospective way, it was identified the patients that received steroids through epidural route. In a prospective way, it was selected the patients that had been diagnosed lumbalgia, establishing two randomized groups (A Group: 80 mg of epidural methylprednisolone and B Group: 6 mg of epidural betamethasone). It was recorded: (i) pain intensity through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); (ii) Oswestry function scale; and (iii) satisfaction grade at three different moments (before, one week after, and two weeks after of operation). Results: In a retrospective way, 50 patients were analyzed. Two sub-groups of 25 patients each were identified (A sub-group: 80 mg of epidural methylprednisolone and B sub-group: 6 mg of epidural betamethasone). In a prospective way, two groups of 8 patients each were analyzed. In the comparative analysis, the studied steroids did not present any differences in the three studied variables. Conclusions: Seemingly, both steroids present a similar analgesic effect. However, further studies are required in order to confirm this tendency.

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