Journal of the Indian Medical Association
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Lumbar disc prolapse as a cause of back and leg pain is quite common and results in significant disability. This is a prospective uncontrolled study done on 40 patients with signs and symptoms of lumbar disc prolapse, in whom conservative treatment of at least 6 weeks had failed. The aim of the present study was to study the effect of caudally administered epidural steroids in the treatment of such patients. ⋯ After 6 months, symptomatic improvement was seen in 67.5% of the cases with good results in 47.5% and fair results in 20% of the patients. No major complications were observed. It is concluded that caudally administered epidural steroid injections are a safe and effective modality of treatment in lumbar disc prolapse with good results in short term and possibly long term in some patients.