Intradiscal glucocorticoid injection in chronic low back pain with Modic 1 changes

Introduction/Background The profit of an intradiscal injection of corticoids in low back pain with Modic 1 changes is not totally resolved. The objectives of this work is to estimate the clinical profit at 1, 3 and 6 months after an intradiscal injection of prednisolone acetate versus a lidocain one in low back pain with Modic. Material and method Fifty patients with low back pain in failure of the medical treatment for more than 6 weeks where included in this prospective, double blind, randomized study. Results Pain intensity was significantly improved a 1 month in the prednisolone acetate group compared to the lidocain group. A significant diffrence is also observed at 1 and 3 months in the activities of the everiday life of DALLAS questionnaire in favour of the glucocorticoid group. There was no significant difference, throughout the follow up on Oswestry evolution, comsuption of analgesic or in professional condition. Conclusion Intradiscal injection of prednisolone acetate in low back pain with modic 1 changes reduces pain intensity at 1 month but not at 3 and 6 months versus lidocain.