European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF TARGETED BLOCKADES IN THE TREATMENT OF SCIATICA

Alihodži? Almedina*, Lu?kin Amina, Mizdrak Alma, Elmedina Mrkuli?, Adnan Papovi? and Idrizbegovi? Amela

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Lumbar pain syndrome is an acute pain in the lower back which is one of the most common reasons why adults visit their family doctors. As a result, there is a need for treatments that can provide safe and predictable pain relief. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of targeted facet blockades (blockades with betamethasone and lidocaine) in the treatment of sciatica. Subjects and methods of work: This study included 100 patients with acute lumbar pain syndrome who were treated at the Spinal Department of the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo (KCUS) in the period from 01.05.2013 - 01.07.2015. After meeting the criteria for inclusion in the study, the subjects' pain level was measured using the Wong Baker Scale (VAS-scale) immediately before the intervention. Results: In this study it is the representation of patients by gender structure, of which 41% were male and 59% female. When using the VAS scale before applying the blockade, the arithmetic mean of the pain intensity is μ = 5.56 and the standard deviation is σ = 1.520. When it comes to the use of the VAS scale after the application of blockades with betamethasone and lidocaine, the arithmetic mean of the pain intensity is μ = 2.73, and the standard deviation is σ = 1.958. We conclude that lumbar pain syndrome is more common in women than in men. The most commonly compressed root was at the level of L5. By analysing the obtained results of pain assessment with the VAS scale, we came to the conclusion that pain was significantly reduced in the subjects after receiving the blockade.

Keywords: lumbar pain syndrome; pain assessment, targeted blockade.