309 patients treated with fluoroscopy-guided caudal epidural injection for lumbar disc herniation.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience, discuss the complications, and assess early vs long-term outcomes of fluoroscopy-guided caudal epidural injection for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: This was a prospective study of 309 patients who underwent fluoroscopy-guided caudal epidural injection from 2014 to 2020. The inclusion criteria were LDH diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging, surgical treatment not required, age >18 years, and history of low back or leg pain despite >6 weeks of treatment comprising a combination of analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy. The epidural injection solution comprised 8 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride (HCL), 2 mL dexamethasone, and 10 mL saline. Each patient completed a questionnaire comprising a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Back Pain Functional Scale (BPFS) at baseline, and 1 month and 1 year after injection. RESULTS: The VAS and BPFS scores indicated significantly less pain at 1 month and 1 year compared with the pre-procedure baseline values. Complications developed in 11 patients (reversible paresis in 7 patients, arrhythmia in 1 patient, headache in 1 patient, seizure in 1 patient, spondylodiscitis in 1 patient). CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroscopy-guided caudal epidural injection for LDH is safe, and the procedure reduced pain and improved functional capacity compared with baseline.

Management of Persistent Coccygodynia and Health Behavior: A Survey Study on Patients with Coccygodynia of Age 41 to 69 years.

Objectives: Coccygodynia, with trauma as a common etiologic factor, is a clinical condition of pain around the coccygeal region. This research aimed at investigating the level of satisfaction in surgical and non- surgical treatment of coccygodynia among Turkish patients and their health behavior. Methods: There is no dearth of studies on coccygodynia; however, a clear gap in research exists of studying coccygodynia patient satisfaction of specific age groups. Turkish patients aged 41 to 69 years and suffering from coccygodynia in different public sector clinics were the respondents in this research. The major criteria of sampling were Turkish patients of coccygodynia, aged 41 to 69 years, satisfied with both surgical and non-surgical methods of treatment, and varying in the nature of the infection. Results: The study found out that coccygodynia patients had a higher probability to receive timely, successful treatment; and that there exists a positive relationship between coccygodynia patients' health behavior and coccygodynia treatment satisfaction.Conclusion: This research is a significant contribution understanding the patients with coccygodynia, and whether they improved their health in a better way with surgical or non-surgical method of treatment.

Effect of humic acid on oxidative stress and neuroprotection in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: part 1.

BACKGROUND: Aimed to investigate in an animal model the efficacy of humic acid by showing its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effect comparing with the histopathological and neurological outcomes for the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. METHODS: 28 Wistar-Albino rats who were on the 7th postnatal day and weighting between 9 and 19 g randomly divided into four groups with developed HIE model under the gas anesthesia. 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal HA were given to Group I and II respectively. Saline was given to Group III and the sham group was Group IV. The brain tissues were stained with cresyl-violet histochemistry for grading neuronal cell injury and caspase immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The neuronal cell injury was statistically lower in all neuroanatomical lands in HA treatment groups. The degree of ischemia was significantly smaller in HA groups. Caspase-3 immunoreactivity was decreased in the HA groups compared with the saline group. When the groups were compared, there were no serious neuronal injury in Group I. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study which investigates the role of HA in HIE model. HA reduces apoptosis and neuronal injury in cerebral tissue of the rats. This findings suggest that HA may be viable protective agent against HIE.