Evaluation of the Effect of Caudal Epidural Pulsed Radiofrequency Stimulation on Chronic Pain

Evaluation of the Effect of Ultrasound Guided Caudal Epidural Pulsed Radiofrequency Stimulation on Chronic Pain in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Postlumbar surgery syndrome (PLSS; failed back syndrome) is characterized by persistent pain in the lower back or lower extremities after spinal surgery. It occurs in 10-40% of patients who undergo a back surgery. The recently introduced pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) technique is widely used to provide relief from chronic pain and studies have shown that PRF stimulation can be used to control neuropathic pain by placing the needle electrodes into the caudal epidural space The aim of this study is evaluation of the effect of ultrasound guided caudal epidural pulsed radiofrequency stimulation in patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular pain due to postlumbar surgery syndrome.

Inclusion Criteria:

• chronic pain in legs or back pain
• unsatisfactory response to at least one transforaminal, lumbar or caudal steroid injections

Exclusion Criteria:

• coagulation disorders
• psychiatric disorders
• rheumatoid disorders
• infections