Effect of Peripheral Nerve Blocks with Low Dose Lignocaine for the Treatment of Acute Lumbosacral Radiculopathy: A Pilot Study

One of the most common ailments that plagues patients is Low back pain. Approximately 80% of the population developing some form of back pain in their lifetime. Up regulated sodium channels is the basic cause in the nerve root or dorsal root ganglion for the mechano-sensitization. Functionally both ends of the pseudo unipolar neuron are the same hence injecting the drug in the peripheral end of the nerve will block these sodium channels.

Open labelled single group pilot study was conducted on patients reporting at the Pain Clinic of AIIMS, Rishikesh after obtaining consent. In the operation theatre patients received one or two peripheral nerve blocks at a maximum according to their nerve involvement. Outcomes were assessed immediately after injection and at 1st, 2nd, 3rd week after the proposed interventions.

30 patients were included in the study. No procedural complications were noted in these 30 patients as the given dose is very less and the site of injection is peripheral. Significant fall in NRS is observed at every visit. Only two patients reported back to pain clinic without pain relief.

Peripheral nerve block injection can be used as adjuvant for acute low back ache which is very simple can be administered in an OPD setting without the help of fluoroscopy guidance. Further studies with control group are needed to establish their efficacy.