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Recruiting NCT04182997

Subjective Intraoperative Use of Epidural Steroid Administration Following Discectomy

Phase IV Interventional Lumbar Disc Herniation

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Dexamethasone, saline 0.9%.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Lumbar Disc Herniation. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
United States
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Official title

Subjective Intraoperative Use of Epidural Steroid Administration Following Discectomy for Herniated Lumbar Discs Is There a Role? - A Randomized Control Trial

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine a grading system for inflammation in lumbar disc herniation and which groups, if any, benefit most from the administration of an intra-operative epidural steroid.

Detailed description

Intraoperative epidural administration of steroids following discectomy for herniated lumbar disc has been the topic of multiple studies in the literature. The results have been mixed, with the majority of the studies finding some benefit, but outcomes have varied drastically amongst the many studies. The aim of this study is to develop a grading scale for intraoperative assessment of nerve root inflammation to determine if this subjective assessment is an adequate indicator for response to epidural steroids following discectomy. Patients will be allocated randomly preoperatively to the intervention group versus control group. Pictures of the spinal cord and associated nerve root will be captured intraoperatively. These pictures will be scrutinized postoperatively and an inflammation grade will be assigned. The investigators will then identify if nerve roots with a higher-grade of inflammation respond differently to epidural steroid administration when compared to lesser-grades of inflammation. This will be measured with the a variety of outcome measures.

Interventions

  • Drug Dexamethasone
    Patients included in the treatment group will have their surgical site lavaged with dexamethasone at the end of their surgery.
  • Drug saline 0.9%
    Patients included in the placebo group will have their surgical site lavaged with sterile saline at the end of their surgery.

Primary outcome measures

  • Post Operative Pain Scores [Time frame: Until final follow up (up to 8 weeks)]
  • Post Operative Oswestry Disability Index [Time frame: Until final follow up (up to 8 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
  • Length of stay [Time frame: Until final follow up (up to 8 weeks)]
  • Post Operative Opioid Usage [Time frame: Until final follow up (up to 8 weeks)]
  • Post Operative Complications [Time frame: Until final follow up (up to 8 weeks)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Presenting to the University of Missouri hospital system - including the University of Missouri Hospital and Missouri Orthopaedic Institute - with a clinical assessment indicative of a lumbar disc herniation
  • Failed conservative treatment - rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy
  • Radiculopathy present - positive tension signs or sensory/motor neurologic deficits present
  • Recent MRI confirming single-level lumbar disc herniation corresponding to clinical evaluation

Exclusion criteria

  • Concomitant spinal stenosis, segmental instability, or spondylolisthesis
  • Previous surgery at the affected level or recurrent herniation
  • Underlying disease that may affect response to steroids - immunocompromise, use of chronic steroids or immunosuppression
  • Pregnancy - qualitative human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) testing will be performed prior to enrollment
  • Diagnosis of or symptoms concerning for cauda equina syndrome

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

United States · 1 center
  • Missouri Orthopaedic Institute — Columbia

Publications

  • Akinduro OO, Miller BA, Haussen DC, Pradilla G, Ahmad FU. Complications of intraoperative epidural steroid use in lumbar discectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurg Focus. 2015 Oct;39(4):E12. doi: 10.3171/2015.7.FOCUS15269. PMID 26424336
  • Aljabi Y, El-Shawarby A, Cawley DT, Aherne T. Effect of epidural methylprednisolone on post-operative pain and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing lumbar microdiscectomy. Surgeon. 2015 Oct;13(5):245-9. doi: 10.1016/j.surge.2014.03.012. Epub 2014 Jun 7. PMID 24916651
  • Arirachakaran A, Siripaiboonkij M, Pairuchvej S, Setrkraising K, Pruttikul P, Piyasakulkaew C, Kongtharvonskul J. Comparative outcomes of epidural steroids versus placebo after lumbar discectomy in lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2018 Dec;28(8):1589-1599. doi: 10.1007/s00590-018-2229-4. Epub 2018 May 29. PMID 29845327
  • Debi R, Halperin N, Mirovsky Y. Local application of steroids following lumbar discectomy. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2002 Aug;15(4):273-6. doi: 10.1097/00024720-200208000-00002. PMID 12177541
  • Diaz RJ, Myles ST, Hurlbert RJ. Evaluation of epidural analgesic paste components in lumbar decompressive surgery: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Neurosurgery. 2012 Feb;70(2):414-23; discussion 423-4. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0b013e3182315f05. PMID 21841518
  • Jamjoom BA, Jamjoom AB. Efficacy of intraoperative epidural steroids in lumbar discectomy: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014 May 5;15:146. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-146. PMID 24885519
  • Jirarattanaphochai K, Jung S, Thienthong S, Krisanaprakornkit W, Sumananont C. Peridural methylprednisolone and wound infiltration with bupivacaine for postoperative pain control after posterior lumbar spine surgery: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2007 Mar 15;32(6):609-16; discussion 617. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000257541.91728.a1. PMID 17413463
  • Karst M, Kegel T, Lukas A, Ludemann W, Hussein S, Piepenbrock S. Effect of celecoxib and dexamethasone on postoperative pain after lumbar disc surgery. Neurosurgery. 2003 Aug;53(2):331-6; discussion 336-7. doi: 10.1227/01.neu.0000073530.81765.6b. PMID 12925248

Identifiers

NCT: NCT04182997 · 2014147

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗