Abstract: Background: Back pain and leg pain are one of the most common symptoms in day to day orthopaedic clinical practice. Also, there is rise in incidence of discogenic back ache because of changed lifestyle, abnormal posture of sitting and lying, continuous sitting in vehicles, and inadequate physical activities. Selective nerve root blockings having the diagnostic and therapeutic use, which is popular and possess certain advantages in avoiding uncertain potential of surgical complications.
Aim: To evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of selective nerve root block procedure. To study relief in terms of pain alleviation, decrease in disability and straight leg raising (SLR) restriction.
Materials and Method: It is a Prospective study of 75 patients of sciatic radiculopathy between the ages of 20 and 60 years are assessed under study that satisfied the inclusion criteria, received selective nerve blocks. Patients were assessed for pain relief and disability reduction.
Results: Total of 75 patients were included in study with 55 males and 20 females with male to female ratio of approx 2:1. The VAS and ODI scores were evaluated in the patients received the nerve block. There was significant immediate improvement in the VAS score and reduction in ODI score at 1st week, 1 month and 6 month of follow-up period in patients.
Conclusion: SNRB is a important and most effective less expensive and minimal invasive treatment modality to provide relief to patients with pain and long lasting therapeutic benefits. This allows the patients to resume the physical activity or work.
