Authors
- Sabina Babić – University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice, Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
- Katarina Atlagić – University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice, Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
- Valentina Ješić – University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice, Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
- Nikolina Vratan – University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice, Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
- Lidija Fumić Dunkić – University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice, Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
DOI
https://doi.org/10.65241/wh.8.2.5
Article type:
Original Scientific Paper
Abstract:
Background: Low back pain is the most common reason patients seek care at pain management clinics and represents a significant public health issue. The Ratz procedure, or epidurolysis, is a minimally invasive technique aimed at reducing pressure on spinal nerve roots to relieve pain intensity.
Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness of epidurolysis in reducing both nociceptive and neuropathic pain. It included 50 patients treated at the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy of University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice (Zagreb, Croatia) over the past five years, for whom sufficient clinical data were available. Pain was assessed using two validated tools: the Numeric Rating Scale for nociceptive pain and the Pain Detect questionnaire for neuropathic pain. The study group consisted of 50 patients (14 men and 36 women) aged 28 to 85 years.
Results: Results showed a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity following epidurolysis. Three weeks after the procedure, mean pain scores were significantly lower compared to pre-treatment values (p < 0.01). Although there was a slight increase in pain at the six-month follow-up, it remained significantly lower than baseline levels (p < 0.05). Both nociceptive and neuropathic components of pain showed measurable improvement, indicating a broad therapeutic effect of the procedure.
Conclusions: This study confirms that epidurolysis leads to a significant reduction in low back pain, affecting both nociceptive and neuropathic components. These findings support the use of epidurolysis as an effective minimally invasive option for managing chronic low back pain in clinical practice.
Keywords:
Epidural adhesiolysis, epidurolysis, chronic radicular pain, low back pain.