Article
Epidural perineural injection of Orthokine conditioned autologous serum vs Triamcinolone for the treatment of lumbar radicular pain : a prospective, randomized, double blinded clinical study
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Authors
Published: | June 13, 2005 |
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Outline
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Introduction
Triamcinolone epidural perineural injections are established modalities in lumbar nerve root compression therapy. Here we compare effectiveness and safety of injected Orthokine autologous conditioned serum (ACS) vs Triamcinolone (5mg/10mg).
Method
90 patients with unilateral sciatica based on signs of single lumbar nerve root compression verified by MRI. Three injections (once per week). Objective and subjective outcome assessments performed six times per patient. Follow up: six months. Needle position verified by x-ray. Oral Ibuprofen was only additional treatment/therapy inside follow up period. Subjective assessment included VAS, Oswestry score, SF36. Objective assessment performed by standardized clinical examination. Treatment effectiveness evaluated by variance analysis.
Results
At baseline no statistically significant difference between groups. Statistically significant VAS pain reduction in all 3 groups after three months, p<0.05. Orthokine group was superior to Triam groups after 3 and 6 months. No significant difference between Triam groups. No adverse effects or complications in any group.
Discussion
ACS and Triam 5mg/10mg improve radicular pain and other functional parameters vs pretreatment values. The advantage of ACS vs steroid group was statistically significant. Orthokine-conditioned serum may display a regenerative effect that could explain the long term efficacy.