Applying the ultrasound guidance for epidural steroid injection for the patients with radiculopathy

To study effectiveness of nerve root block or epidural steroid injection using ultrasound guidance compared to classical conventional treatment. The study had been performed by the Scientific and Methodological Department of the SONAR Hospital in Chelyabinsk. The neurological and psycho-emotional status, quality of life survey, nighttime sleep and condition of lipid peroxidation - antioxidant system were analyzed in patients with lumbar radiculopathy caused by the presence of discs hernitation. The patients were subdivided in two groups: patients receiving conventional treatment (50) and treated with nerve root block or epidural steroid injection using ultrasound guidance (168 patients). Patients who were treated with nerve root block or epidural steroid injection using ultrasound guidance 88.47 % reduced pain without any additional NSAID drugs, 11.53 % used additional drugs. The patients treated with nerve root block or epidural steroid injection using ultrasound guidance faster and more efficiently managed to arrest the pain and showed significant and rapid regression of imba-lance of the lipid peroxidation - antioxidant system with improved dynamics of neurological status; qualitative indicators of sleep were also significantly improved, compared with patients in the group of conventional treatment.