Discogenic sciatica is a common and debilitating symptom. Both surgical and minimally invasive treatment options are available but none has been shown to be definitively superior. The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel minimally invasive technique for the treatment of discogenic sciatica using a combination of percutaneous discectomy, intra-discal ozone injection and caudal epidural injection (APLD/Ozone/Epidural). The efficacy of this novel technique was compared to caudal epidural injection alone, the current first line minimally...

This prospective observational cohort study was conducted after approval by the local ethics committee and was performed based on the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were as follows: Inclusion criteria Mild to moderate lumbar disc herniation (occupying <30% of spinal canal confirmed on MRI scan), contained or uncontained. Sciatica +/- lower back pain correlating to the lumbar disc herniation visualised on MRI. Symptoms of sciatica ongoing for at least 6 weeks. Non-response to conservative management (physiotherapy/analgesia) >18 years of...

Patient characteristics 132 patients were enrolled in this study, 28 (21%) received APLD/Ozone/Epidural and 104 (79%) received caudal epidural alone. Patient characteristics are recorded in Table 1. Certain data was unavailable. 10 patients were lost to follow up and were excluded from the study. This included 3 (11%) in the APLD/Ozone/Epidural group and 7 (6.7%) in the caudal epidural group. 39 patients (32%) had documented lumbar disc herniation but not an MRI report or scan available for review. Of these 39 patients, 34 (28%) also...

This prospective observational cohort study is the first to combine APLD, intra-discal ozone injection and caudal epidural injection (APLD/Ozone/Epidural) as a single minimally invasive treatment for discogenic sciatica. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of this combination treatment and compare it to caudal epidural injection, the current first line minimally invasive treatment for discogenic sciatica. As well providing useful data in its own right, this project was designed as a pilot study with the data collected contributing to the...

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Dr M.T. Crockett MB, BCh, BAO, BA, MCh, MRCS (Ire) Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Eccles St, Dublin Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Finglas, Dublin Email: [email protected]