Functional Outcomes of Epidural Steroid Injection in Chronic Lower Back Pain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.2941Keywords:
Chronic pain, Epidural injections, Low back painAbstract
Background: Chronic low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition affecting a large proportion of adults worldwide. It is usually defined as pain in the lumbar region lasting more than three months and it often leads to reduced mobility and limitation in daily activities. Epidural steroid injection is an interventional procedure used to reduce inflammation around nerve roots. Objective: To determine the functional outcomes of epidural steroid injection in patients with chronic lower back pain. Study Design: Descriptive study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was conducted from 05 December 2024 to 05 April 2025 in the Department of Orthopedics, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Methodology: A total of 185 patients aged 18–70 years having chronic lower back pain. All patients received epidural injection containing 80 milligram triamcinolone with bupivacaine. Functional outcome was assessed after 4 weeks using Macnab criteria. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Results: The mean age was 43.47 ± 15.89 years. Mean body mass index was 27.38 ± 2.87 kilogram per square meter and mean duration of pain was 21.99 ± 8.78 months. Male patients were 113 (61.1%) and females were 72 (38.9%). Good functional outcome was observed in 83 (44.90%) patients, fair in 46 (24.90%), excellent in 28 (15.10%) and poor in 28 (15.10%). Conclusion: Epidural steroid injection showed favorable functional improvement in many patients with chronic lower back pain.
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