Pain physician
-
Posterolateral endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PLELD) or percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy has been reported to be effective as treatment for herniated lumbar disc in degenerative spondylolisthesis. Few studies have investigated the outcomes of open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) and PLELD for antero- and retrospondylolisthesis with mild slippage and instability. ⋯ Anterospondylolisthesis, disc degeneration, endplate, herniated lumbar disc, open lumbar discectomy, percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, posterolateral endoscopic lumbar discectomy, retrospondylolisthesis, slippage.
-
Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a common practice for pain treatment since 1953. In 2014, the FDA issued a warning about ESI. Studies have focused on the effect of the particle size and their ability to generate harmful aggregates. Although steroid aggregates provide longer times for reabsorption, therefore a longer anti-inflammatory effect, they are potentially harmful to the central nervous system via embolic mechanisms.Previous studies have established that steroidal aggregates with asizes over 100 mu m are potentially able to occlude blood vessels. Studies by Tiso et al and Benzon et al addressed the role of steroids on CNS adverse events, with similar outcomes. The main difference was on the role of aggregates with a size over 100 mu m, which Benzon et al. attributed to the ability of certain steroid preparations to rapidly precipitate and form large aggregates. ⋯ Epidural steroid injection, triamcinolone, betamethasone, dexamethasone, steroid aggregates.