• Hans van Helvoirt, Adri T Apeldoorn, Raymond W Ostelo, Dirk L Knol, Mark P Arts, Steven J Kamper, and Maurits W van Tulder.
• Medical Back Neck Centre, The Hague and Rugpoli Brabant Tilburg, The Netherlands.
• Pain Med. 2014 Jul 1;15(7):1100-8.

Study DesignProspective cohort study.ObjectiveTo report the clinical course of patients with MRI-confirmed lumbar disc herniation-related radicular noncentralizing pain who received transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) and mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT).Summary Of Background DataNoncentralizing symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation are associated with poor outcome. Commonly used treatments for these patients include TESIs and MDT. No study has evaluated the outcome of combining both strategies.MethodsConsecutive candidates for herniated lumbar disc surgery with noncentralizing chronic pain were eligible. Patients received TESIs followed by MDT. The primary outcomes were pain severity in the leg, disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for Sciatica), and global perceived effect (GPE). Outcomes were measured at baseline, discharge, and 12 months. Linear mixed-models and McNemar's tests were used to analyze outcome data.ResultsSixty-nine patients receive TESIs. After TESIs, symptoms were resolved completely in 11 patients (16%). In these patients, symptom resolution was maintained at 12 months. A second subgroup of 32 patients (46%) reported significantly less pain after TESIs and showed centralization with MDT reassessment (significant reductions in leg pain and disability [P < 0.001]) and a satisfaction rate of 90% at 12 months. A third subgroup of 11 patients (16%) reported significantly less pain after TESIs but still showed noncentralization with MDT reassessment (significant reductions in leg pain and disability [P < 0.05] and a satisfaction rate of 50% at 12 months). A fourth subgroup of 15 patients (22%) did not respond on TESIs and received an operative intervention.ConclusionThe results indicate that a course of TESIs followed by MDT may be able to avoid surgery in a substantial proportion of candidates for herniated lumbar disc surgery.Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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