Epiduroscopic intervention in patients with a failed back surgery syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Epiduroscopy is a percutaneous endoscopic technique with an interesting diagnostic and therapeutic potential. AIM: The study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this modern minimally invasive method in treating pain together with the accompanying neurological symptoms of patients with a failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). RESULTS: In the retrospective multicentre clinical study, we monitored the effect of epiduroscopic performance in 40 patients with FBSS before epiduroscopy and after 6 and 12 months. The results of the study indicated a signifi cant improvement in back pain after 6 months, at p<0.05. At the same time, a signifi cant improvement was observed in pain radiating to the lower limbs after 6 and 12 months at p<0.05, as well as a signifi cant improvement in the Oswestry Disability Index of the limbs after 6 months and after 12 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The current summarised results indicate a signifi cant positive effect of epiduroscopy in the treatment of chronic back pain with a reduction in radiating pain to the lower extremities and an increase in patients' quality of life after the procedure (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 23).