Clinical Outcomes of Selective Nerve Root Block in Patients with Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Radiculopathy and Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy: A Single-Arm Prospective Longitudinal Study
Yuttana Dangtip, MD¹
Affiliation : ¹ Somdej Prasangkarach 17th Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Suphanburi, Thailand
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of selective nerve root block (SNRB) in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with radiculopathy and lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy, focusing on pain relief and functional improvement over a 6-month follow-up period.
Materials and Methods: For this single-arm prospective longitudinal study, 64 patients with clinically and radiologically confirmed degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with radiculopathy and/or lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy, who had undergone SNRB at Somdej Phra Sangkharat 17th Hospital between August 2023 and May 2024, were enrolled. Pain severity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the patients’ functional disability was evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Outcomes were measured at the baseline, as well as 24 hours, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-injection. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare outcomes across follow-up time points.
Results: Among the 64 patients (65.6% female, mean age 57.97±12.17 years), the most common lesion level was L4 to L5 (95.3%). Mean VAS scores had decreased significantly from the baseline (7.95±0.86) to 24 hours (1.11±0.85), 2 weeks (1.64±0.75), 3 months (2.96±1.03), and 6 months (4.16±1.23) post-SNRB (p<0.001). Mean ODI had also decreased from 47.72±10.99 at baseline to 11.84±7.07 at 2 weeks and 26.41±13.51 at 6 months (p<0.001). However, 78.1% of patients had reported a recurrence of symptoms at 6 months.
Conclusion: SNRB was associated with significant short- to mid-term improvements in pain and functional outcomes among patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with radiculopathy and lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. However, symptom recurrence was common at 6 months, suggesting that SNRB may provide temporary symptom control rather than definitive long-term treatment.
Received 25 November 2025 | Revised 22 June 2026 | Accepted 23 June 2026
J Med Assoc Thai 2026;109(8):674-80
Keywords : Selective nerve root block (SNRB); Lumbar spinal stenosis; Lumbar disc herniation; Radiculopathy; Visual analogue scale
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