OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of epidural corticosteroid injections for @entity13549 . METHODS: Three epidural injections (two day intervals) of 2 ml @entity12356 (50 mg) or 2 ml isotonic saline were administered to @entity1 with @entity13549 presumably due to a disk herniation lasting 15-180 days. Self evaluation was the main judgment criterion at day 20. @entity1 who recovered or showed marked improvement were considered as success. @entity158 measured by VAS, the SLR test, Schober's test, @entity158 questionnaire, and the Roland-Morris index were evaluated at days 0, 5, 20, and 35. Only analgesics were authorised, @entity1 requiring non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before day 20 were considered as failure. RESULTS: 42 @entity1 were included in the control group (CG), 43 in the @entity134 group (SG). On an intention to treat analysis 15/42 (36%) in the CG and 22/43 (51%) in the SG (p=0.15) were considered as success (difference 15.5%, 95% CI (-5.4 to 36.3)). Among the 48 failures, 14 @entity1 (6 CG, 8 SG) required NSAIDs, 3 (2 CG, 1 SG) required surgery, and 7 (3 CG, 4 SG) other treatments. On analysis according to protocol, in 74 remaining @entity1 12/35 (34%) in the CG and 22/39 (56%) in the SG (p=0.057) were considered as success (difference 22.1%, 95% CI (0.0 to 44.2)). For all secondary end points intragroup improvement with time was significant, but intergroup differences were not. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of isotonic saline administered epidurally for @entity13549 cannot be excluded, but epidural steroid injections provide no additional improvement.

Epidural corticosteroid injections for XXXX : a randomised, double blind, controlled clinical trial.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity134 :: ('CHEBI:35341', 'Chemical') :: ['steroid'] @entity13549 :: ('MESH:D012585', 'Disease') :: ['sciatica'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['Pain', 'Dallas pain'] @entity12356 :: ('MESH:C009935', 'Chemical') :: ['prednisolone acetate']
@entity13549 :: (MESH:D012585,Disease) :: ['sciatica']
