Clinical study of radiofrequency thermocoagulation for treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of radiofrequency thermocoagulation combined with epidural block for treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.Methods:One hundred and two patients with Lumbar disc herniation were divided into two groups.Radiofrequency thermocoagulation combined with epidural block group(group R,n=48)accepted the epidural drugs injection。1 week later radi-ofrequency thermocoagulation was taken.The epidural block group(group E,n=54)accepted the same epidural drugs injection.The VAS scores,clinical efficacy and complication were evaluated.Results:After the treatment,VAS scores in both groups decreased significantly compared with that before treatment.VAS scores on day 1,week 1 and month 1 after radiofrequency thermocoagulation were 3.13±0.99,1.35±0.34,1.05±1.22 respectively in the group R and 4.98±0.66,1.98±0.81,1.68±1.03 respectively in the group E(P0.01).On the second day after radiofrequency thermocoagulation,the satisfactory rate was 75.0%in the group R,which was much better than 53.7%in the group E.One month after radiofrequency thermocoagulation,the curative satisfactory rate in the group R was 83.3%higher than 74.1%in the group E.Conclusion:Thermocoagulation combined with epidural block for treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation is effective and safe.