No abstract available.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome*

Epidural fibrosis is a contributing factor to the persistent pain that is associated with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) and other pathophysiologies, particularly as it inhibits the passage of regional medications to areas responsible for pain. Therefore, effective mechanical detachment of epidural fibrosis can contribute to pain reduction and improve function in FBSS patients. In this report, we describe the successful treatment of FBSS patients with epidural adhesiolysis using a Fogarty catheter via the transforaminal approach.
Catheters ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome* ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural

One hundred thirty-five patients undergone microdiscectomy of lumbar disc disease were analysed with soft-ware program which designed for effective analysis for spinal in-patients since February, 1990. Owing to that program, all the patients could be easily analyzed and get a regular follow-up. The surgical result was evaluated by our own score rating system which consists of 4 items:1) Frequency of medication, 2) Degree of social activity, 3) Post-operative symptom compared to pre-operative state and 4) Patient's satisfaction with the operation. According to that system, 21 patients(15.6%) were estimated with failure following microdiscectomy. Among them 6 patients of psychosocial problem, 4 patients of technical errors and 2 patients of recurrence were an important causes of failure. For the purpose of effective surgery for lumbar disc surgery, a careful analysis of the cases of surgical failure should be attempted and also a regular follow-up can be importment factor for more accurate estimation of surgical result.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence

Results from lumbar disc operation in general are favorable in 70% to 90% of patients. The rate of necessary reintervention of the primary discectomy, however, may be as high as one fifth of cases even though diagnostic and technical standards have been improved. The purpose of this study was to analyse the reasons for failure of primary discectomy and which factors might have influenced the outcome of revisions in 53 patients with failed back surgery syndrome from the years 1989 to 1993. Mean follow up duration was 11.4 months with range of 1 to 69 months. Before revisions, all patients had one or more lumbar disc operations in whom disabling pain, neurologic deficits, and/or lumbar instabilities have been persisted or newly developed. The most common intraoperative findings of patients with revision were recurrent or persistent disc material(35.9%) followed by incomplete decompression from previous operations(24.5%), and disc lesions at new level(11.3%). In overall, 77.3% of total patients showed satisfactor y results(fair, good, and excellent) but this figure drops to 39.6% when those with at least good or excellent outcomes are only considered as definitively improved. Moreover only 22.9% good results were obtained among 35 patients with those less than 6 months of symptom duration. As for the total number of operations undertaken, it can not be conclusively stated due to small numbers in each categories, but less favorable results have been observed in those with more than one revisions. The factors predicting good outcome from revisions in our series were:1) greater than 6 months of pain relief after primary operation, 2) sciatica more prominent than lower back pain, 3) fewer operations.
Decompression ; Diskectomy ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Sciatica

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hyaluronidase in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) treated with interlaminar lumbar epidural injection (ILEI). METHOD: Sixty patients suffering from severe low back pain and sciatica were randomly allocated into three groups. Group T received ILEI with 2 ml triamcinolone 40 mg/ml and 5 ml bupivacaine 0.25%. Group H received ILEI with 1500 IU hyaluronidase and 5 ml bupivacaine 0.25%. Group TH received interlaminar lumbar epidural injection (ILEI) with 1500 IU hyaluronidase, 2 ml triamcinolone 40 mg/ml and 5 ml bupivacaine 0.25%. The effect was evaluated using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at pre-injection, 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after ILEI. RESULTS: After 2 weeks and after 6 weeks, patients in both Group T and Group TH had significant effectiveness more than Group H in decrease of VAS and ODI. After 12 weeks, only patients in Group TH had significant effectiveness in decrease of VAS and ODI (p<0.05). In every period, Group TH had the most effectivess in decrease of VAS and ODI after ILEI. CONCLUSION: ILEI for FBSS with triamcinolone and hyaluronidase is considered to have more long term effectiveness to reduce pain and improve function after ILEI than injection with triamcinolone alone or hyaluronidase alone.
Bupivacaine ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Humans ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase ; Injections, Epidural ; Low Back Pain ; Sciatica ; Stress, Psychological ; Triamcinolone

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of anterior lumbar interbody fusion in treatment of failed back surgery syndrome, the authors retrospectively analyzed the result of anterior lumbar interbody fusion performed in our institute. METHODS: Fifteen FBSS patients due to variable causes have been treated with anterior lumbar interbody fusion in our institute from April 1994 to June 1999. We analyzed clinical changes in 15 patients who were followed up for an average of 23 months. RESULTS: The etiologies of FBSS were post operative discitis(6 cases), post operative instability(3 cases), post operative adhesion(5 cases), and recurrence(1 case). These fifteen FBSS patients were treated with anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The overall treatment outcome was satisfactory(excellent and good) in 11 cases. Three patients were slightly improved, but post operative low back pain was remained. One patient who had underwent nerve root injury due to pedicle screw insertion showed no improvement. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the anterior lumbar interbody fusion for FBSS seems to be safe and favorable treatment in selective patients, because low incidence of nerve injury risk and post-operative infection.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Low Back Pain ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: At present, epidural steroid injection is one of the most frequently used method in the treatment for low back pain. But this method is nonspecific and results in a widespread of injected agent around the target point. So, we introduce combined nerve block and had good results. METHODS: The authors evaluated the effects of combined nerve block in 153 patients with low back pain, retrospectively. They had spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, herniated lumbar disc and failed back surgery syndrome. We operated combined nerve block to patients respectively, that is caudal block, facet block and iliolumbar & sacroiliac joint block. We used Depomedrol(R) 80mg in 2ml and 2% Emcaine(R) 400mg in 20ml as injection agents, Visual analog scale(VAS) for assessment of the effect was used. RESULTS: Six months after nerve block, the outcome of treatment for back pain was cured(a decrease in VAS score from 4 and over to 3 and under) in 35.3%, improved(a decrease in VAS score but 4 and over) in 32.7% and unchanged(no change in VAS score) in 32.0%. Overall rate of improvement was 68.0%. CONCLUSION: We think that combined nerve block is more specific and effective in patients with low back pain. Therefore, this technique could be alternative method to epidural steroid injection.
Back Pain ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Nerve Block* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spinal Stenosis

Today, low back pain constitutes one of the most difficult medical problems. Chronic back pain in some patients is refractory to medical, surgical, and behavioral therapy. Persistent or recurrent, chronic pain after spine surgery, referred to as failed back surgery syndrome, can present frustrating cases. When conservative treatments, such as physiotherapy, exercise programs, and epidural steroid injection can not alleviate pain, spinal cord stimulation offers a potentially beneficial treatment option. We describe our experiences on the effects of spinal cord stimulation in a patient with failed back surgery syndrome and a patient suffering from chronic intractable low back pain who obtained satisfactory pain relief and reduction of disability after the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator.
Back Pain ; Chronic Pain ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Humans ; Leg* ; Low Back Pain ; Spinal Cord Stimulation ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine

As our population ages and the rate of spine surgery continues to rise, the use epidural lysis of adhesions (LOA) has emerged as a popular treatment to treat spinal stenosis and failed back surgery syndrome. There is moderate evidence that percutaneous LOA is more effective than conventional ESI for both failed back surgery syndrome, spinal stenosis, and lumbar radiculopathy. For cervical HNP, cervical stenosis and mechanical pain not associated with nerve root involvement, the evidence is anecdotal. The benefits of LOA stem from a combination of factors to include the high volumes administered and the use of hypertonic saline. Hyaluronidase has been shown in most, but not all studies to improve treatment outcomes. Although infrequent, complications are more likely to occur after epidural LOA than after conventional epidural steroid injections.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase ; Loa ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: Epidural fibrosis and adhesion are the main reasons for post-laminectomy sustained pain and functional disability. In this study, the authors investigate the effect of irradiated freeze-dried human amniotic membrane on reducing epidural adhesion after laminectomy on a rat model. METHODS: A total of 20 rats were divided into two groups. The group A did not receive human amniotic membrane implantation after laminectomy and group B underwent human amniotic membrane implantation after laminectomy. Gross and microscopic findings were evaluated and compared at postoperative 1, 3 and 8 weeks. RESULTS: The amount of scar tissue and tenacity were reduced grossly in group of rats with human amniotic membrane implantation (group B). On a microscopic evaluation, there were less inflammatory cell infiltration and fibroblast proliferation in group B. CONCLUSION: This experimental study shows that implantation of irradiated freeze-dried human amniotic membrane reduce epidural fibrosis and adhesion after spinal laminectomy in a rat model.
Amnion ; Animals ; Cicatrix ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Rats