European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The value of nerve root infiltration for leg pain when used with a nerve stimulator.
Randomized comparative study of the efficacy of nerve root infiltration (NRI) guided by neurostimulator to find the value of nerve stimulators in nerve root infiltration was undertaken. The response to nerve root infiltration using local anaesthetics and steroid is unpredictable, partly because the exact nerve root giving rise to pain may not be truly infiltrated. The nerve stimulator is advocated to identify the nerve root of concern prior to infiltration. ⋯ When responded there was no significant statistical difference using the Oswestry disability score between both groups. After excluding disc bulge in patients who respond partially to NRI, it is worthwhile repeating the injection. There was a significant difference in response rate when NRI was done under guidance of a nerve stimulator, the stimulator is safe to use and increases the specificity of the block.