Caudal Epidurals
Injection into Sacral canal of spine for back pain & sciatica.
Research at Imperial College and review of the International Literature shows that a great deal of the pain associated with disc problems arises from inflammation of the adjacent structures including the spinal nerve roots secondary to the release of inflammatory substances from the degenerate disc. Accordingly there is much to recommend accurately targeted injection of these structures with anti-inflammatory and pain killing medication. My own experience shows a higher level of success than spinal surgery for these sort of conditions with a significantly lower incidence of complications.
Procedures - Transverse image fromMRI scan of L5/S1 Slipped Disc
Conclusions
Positive meta-analysis (Watts & Silagy)
11 RCT 907 patients
Neutral meta-analysis (Koes et al)
12 RCT
Positive papers 8 4RCT
Negative papers 4 2RCT
In combination with active rehabilitation caudal epidurals can help
achieve 86% success in treatment of sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation
Facet Joint Injection
For osteoarthiritis of spine.
Vertebroplasty
Treatment of spinal factures.
