MedPath

Racz Catheter Technique Versus Conventional Technique in Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection for Management of Low Back Pain

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Racz Catheter
Conventional
Lumbar
Epidural
Steroid Injection
Low Back Pain
Interventions
Drug: Conventional lumbar steroid injections
Procedure: Racz catheter
Registration Number
NCT06599723
Lead Sponsor
Tanta University
Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to compare Racz catheter technique and conventional technique in lumbar epidural steroid injection for the management of low back pain.

Detailed Description

Low back pain (LBP) is defined as a localized discomfort sensation below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal folds, with or without leg pain. Conservative treatment for LBP is focused on delaying or preventing the need for surgery. Indeed, LBP can improve spontaneously or with non-surgical treatment. However, cases that fail to improve with conservative management may need to be considered for a surgical approach.

The epidural injection is a well-founded anesthetic and analgesic technique; moreover, nowadays, new technological devices can help anesthesiologists to learn and to administer it. One of these devices is Racz catheter epidural adhesiolysis. Racz catheter epidural adhesiolysis treatment addresses two issues, the injectate always reaches the area being targeted also the injections are likely to loosen fibrotic adhesions which may be the main cause of the pain in some cases.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age from 18 to 65 years.
  • Both sexes.
  • Patients suffering from persistent lumbar pain, grade 1 spondylolisthesis, facet osteoarthropathy, and small disc on radiological findings.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Uncooperative patients.
  • Contraindications to perform the proper technique e.g., coagulopathy and skin infection.
  • History of allergy to contrast medium.
  • Rupture disc.
  • Lumbar canal stenosis.
  • Previously operated traditional spine surgeries.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Conventional lumbar steroid injections groupConventional lumbar steroid injectionsPatients will receive conventional lumbar steroid injections.
Racz catheter groupRacz catheterPatients will receive lumbar epidural steroid using Racz catheter.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Oswestry score6 month post-procedure

Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire: This questionnaire has been designed to give us information as to how back pain has affected a patient's ability to manage everyday life. It consists of 10 questions for each question, there is a possible 5 points (0 for the first answer, 1 for the second answer, etc). Add up the total for the 10 questions and rate them on the scale (0-4 no disability, 5-14 mild disability, 15-24 moderate disability, 25-34 severe disability, 35-50 complete disability). It will be assisted pre-procedure as a baseline, after 1, 2, 4, 6 month post-procedure.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Degree of pain6 month post-procedure

The degree of pain will be assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). VAS (0 represents "no pain" while 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable").

Patient satisfaction6 month post-procedure

Degree of patient satisfaction will be assessed on a 5-point Likert scale patient satisfaction (1, extremely dissatisfied; 2, unsatisfied; 3, neutral; 4, satisfied; 5, extremely satisfied)

Procedure technique timeIntraoperatively

The time consumed to perform both techniques will be recorded.

Incidence of complications6 month post-procedure

Complications that may occur during the technique such as (bending of the tip of the needle, shearing of the catheter, misplacement of the catheter, blocking of the catheter, blood aspiration and bleeding in the epidural space, hypotension, migration of the catheter, paresthesia, headache and infection) will be recorded.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tanta University

🇪🇬

Tanta, El-Gharbia, Egypt

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath