Comparison Between Endoscopic Epidural Neuroplasty and Percutaneous Epidural Neuroplasty With a Steering Catheter in Low Back and Radicular Pain

Low back pain and lumbar radicular pain commonly occur in degenerative spondy-losis. Low back and radicular pain have many underlying causes, one of which is scar-ring in the epidural space, which can cause pain for many reasons. The nerves may be trapped by scars, while the congestive veins in the epidural space can become enlarged and exert pressure upon the nerves.

Percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (PEN) with a wire type catheter, first reported by Dr. Racz, has been widely practiced since 1989, and reduces pain by epidural adhesiolysis, epidural fibrosis and inflammation near the neural tissue.

The PEN procedure is used to dissolve some scar tissue around the entrapped nerves in the epidural space of the spine. PEN can be performed percutaneously, using a Racz catheter. The catheter may be manipulated to mechanically break up adhesions, while various agents, such as anesthetics, corticosteroids, hyaluronidase, and hypertonic saline are injected. In endoscopic epidural neuroplasty (EEN), a flexible catheter is inserted into the sacral hiatus to precisely place the injection in the epidural space and onto the nerve root. Both EEN and PEN can eliminate the deleterious effects of scar formation, which can physically prevent the direct application of drugs to the nerves, and may pro-vide pain relief in patients who have not responded to epidural blocks, physical therapy, or medication.

In this study, visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of pa-tients with low back and radicular pain were compared in patients who had received EEN or PEN at 1 day, 1 month, and 6 months after EEN or PEN.