Epidural injection of autologous serum

• 出 处: 中华物理医学与康复杂志
• 发表日期: 2016年38期

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Cervical radiculopathy is a common complaint of middle to older patients at orthopedic outpatient clinics. As research has suggested that biochemical sensitizers make nerve roots susceptible to mechanical effects of a herniated mass, interleukin one and prostaglandins are commonly seen as involved in producing radiculopathy. Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) is derived by processing the patient's blood to produce high concentrations of interleukin I receptor antagonists. This study evaluated the efficacy of ACS in patients with cervical radiculopathy who had failed conservative treatments.

METHODS

Forty patients with neck pain radiating into one upper limb for at least six weeks were randomized to receive either ACS or methylprednisolone (MPS). The subjects were assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, the Neck Pain Disability Scale (NPDS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Measurements were made at baseline, and then at three weeks, three months and six months after injection.

RESULTS

The mean, six-month improvement in VAS scores for patients receiving ACS was 73.2%, while that for those receiving MPS was 58.4%. Over the same timeframe, the mean NPDS score decreased in the ACS group by 73.76% and in the MPS group by 55.6%. The mean NDI scores decreased by 74.47% in the ACS group and by 52.8% in the MPS group.

CONCLUSION

This study of patients with cervical radiculopathy found that epidural injections of autologous condition serum are at least as effective as steroid injections for reduction of pain and disability.