Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary Study
Lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) of degenerative origin is a common reason for distorted neurodynamics of nerve roots, causing radicular pain that is difficult to resolve with conservative treatments. A hyaluronic acid (HA), providing a sliding layer in the mechanical interface of a nerve root in a n...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/6/2359 |
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| author | Piotr Godek Kuba Ptaszkowski |
| author_facet | Piotr Godek Kuba Ptaszkowski |
| author_sort | Piotr Godek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) of degenerative origin is a common reason for distorted neurodynamics of nerve roots, causing radicular pain that is difficult to resolve with conservative treatments. A hyaluronic acid (HA), providing a sliding layer in the mechanical interface of a nerve root in a narrowed lateral recess, could potentially improve its neurodynamics and the trophic, leading to radicular pain reduction and improvement of function. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of ultrasound-guided HA epidural injections combined with neuromobilization in the conservative treatment of LFS. A group of 10 consecutively admitted patients with MRI-confirmed LFS and reduced straight leg raise (SLR) test results were qualified for a single HA epidural injection along with self-performed neuromobilization. Three measurement tools were used for primary outcomes: the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain intensity, the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Roland–Morris questionnaire (RMQ) for disability level, and the angle of pain-free elevation in the SLR test as a functional assessment. The treatment was accomplished in all patients (100%). Overall, 60% of the patients completed all follow-up visits. There were no statistically significant differences regarding the results of the NRS, ODI, or RMQ; however, a statistically significant increase in the results of the SLR test was noted (<i>p</i> = 0.015). Three patients reported a flare-up of the symptoms shortly after injection but without neurological deficits. In conclusion, an epidural HA injection combined with a self-administered exercise program is a promising method and might be a beneficial way to enhance the neurodynamics of nerve roots in LFS and offer an option for steroid treatment. However, this method of epidural HA administration in LFS should be verified in further studies to confirm its efficiency and safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:21:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1bcd1d93a0854b18ad35869db64afd80 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:21:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-1bcd1d93a0854b18ad35869db64afd802023-11-17T11:51:47ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832023-03-01126235910.3390/jcm12062359Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary StudyPiotr Godek0Kuba Ptaszkowski1Sutherland Medical Center, 04-036 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wrocław, PolandLumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS) of degenerative origin is a common reason for distorted neurodynamics of nerve roots, causing radicular pain that is difficult to resolve with conservative treatments. A hyaluronic acid (HA), providing a sliding layer in the mechanical interface of a nerve root in a narrowed lateral recess, could potentially improve its neurodynamics and the trophic, leading to radicular pain reduction and improvement of function. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of ultrasound-guided HA epidural injections combined with neuromobilization in the conservative treatment of LFS. A group of 10 consecutively admitted patients with MRI-confirmed LFS and reduced straight leg raise (SLR) test results were qualified for a single HA epidural injection along with self-performed neuromobilization. Three measurement tools were used for primary outcomes: the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain intensity, the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Roland–Morris questionnaire (RMQ) for disability level, and the angle of pain-free elevation in the SLR test as a functional assessment. The treatment was accomplished in all patients (100%). Overall, 60% of the patients completed all follow-up visits. There were no statistically significant differences regarding the results of the NRS, ODI, or RMQ; however, a statistically significant increase in the results of the SLR test was noted (<i>p</i> = 0.015). Three patients reported a flare-up of the symptoms shortly after injection but without neurological deficits. In conclusion, an epidural HA injection combined with a self-administered exercise program is a promising method and might be a beneficial way to enhance the neurodynamics of nerve roots in LFS and offer an option for steroid treatment. However, this method of epidural HA administration in LFS should be verified in further studies to confirm its efficiency and safety.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/6/2359lumbar foraminal stenosisradicular painhyaluronic acidepidural injectionsnerve root neurodynamicsneuromobilization |
| spellingShingle | Piotr Godek Kuba Ptaszkowski Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary Study Journal of Clinical Medicine lumbar foraminal stenosis radicular pain hyaluronic acid epidural injections nerve root neurodynamics neuromobilization |
| title | Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary Study |
| title_full | Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary Study |
| title_fullStr | Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary Study |
| title_short | Safety of Epidural Hyaluronic Acid Injections in Managing the Symptoms of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis: A Prospective Preliminary Study |
| title_sort | safety of epidural hyaluronic acid injections in managing the symptoms of lumbar foraminal stenosis a prospective preliminary study |
| topic | lumbar foraminal stenosis radicular pain hyaluronic acid epidural injections nerve root neurodynamics neuromobilization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/6/2359 |
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