Treatment of lumbar vertebra disc protrusion by injection of lateral epidural recess

Objective To observe the clinical effect of injecting anti-inflammatory analgesic solution into lateral epidural recess on protrusion of vertebral disc. Methods In group A (lateral epidural recess) the puncture point was determined by lumbar vertebral roentgenogram of equal proportion and the depth of puncture by lumbar vertebral CT. The vertebral disc protrusion in L4-5 and above were punctured via the outer notch of vertebral laminae, and was punctured in L5--S1 vertically via the inner side of the small joint. Group B was punctured via routine posterior middle approach. Both groups were injected with 2% lidocaine 5 ml,VitB12 1 000μg, VitB1 100mg and triamcinolone acetoneide 40mg in total of 10ml, once a week and four times as a course of treatment. Results The cure rate in group A was 81.25% in 32 patients and in group B 63.33% in 30 patients and the complications in group A were less than that in group B. Conclusion Treatment of lumbar vertebra disc protrusion through epidural lateral recess is better than through posterior middle approache. This method is safe and dependable, with less risk of puncturing into subarachnoid space.