A COMPARISON BETWEEN EPIDURAL ANAESTHESIA WITH AND WITHOUT CORTICOSTEROID IN THE TREATMENT OF SCIATICA

Abstract

Comparison of the results of treatment with epidural injection of procaine alone with that of procaine plus Depo-Medrone in patients with unilateral sciatica showed no definite difference between the two groups. Of 48 patients, there was improvement in about 70%, whichever solution was used. However, it is of interest that in patients with a long history of severe sciatica the injection of procaine plus Depo-Medrone appeared to give better results. This finding should be noted, and a further comparative trial in this group is worth undertaking.