Background: Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a persistent radicular and/or lumbar pain post spine surgery. Percutaneous adhesiolysis (PA) has proved efficacy for treating intractable chronic pain following the failure of non-surgical management.
Objectives: our research is the short-term evaluation of the efficacy of percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis using Racz catheter in improving pain scores in leg and low back pain in failed back surgery syndrome patients.
Patients and methods: 20 patients diagnosed with FBSS completed the study, determined by pre-interventional MRI underwent adhesiolysis by introducing Racz epidural catheter through an RK needle to the level of the pathology.
Results: 20 patients diagnosed with FBSS failed to respond to medical treatment undergone caudal epidural adhesiolysis using RACZ catheter. Remarkable difference was found in NRS when comparing the scores pre-intervention and 2 weeks after the intervention; P<0.001, also high statistical difference was detected when comparing the baseline pain scores with 1 month, 3 months scores; P<0.001. Friedman test displayed a high significant variance in NRS scores versus time (P< 0.001).
Conclusion: Racz adhesiolysis is an effective intervention in improving pain scores in patients with FBSS.