Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.65241/wh.8.2.5

Epidurolysis in the treatment of chronic back pain - retrospective analysis

Sabina Babic ; University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice , Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia *
Katarina Atlagic ; University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice , Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
Valentina Jesic ; University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice , Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
Nikolina Vratan ; University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice , Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia
Lidija Fumic Dunkic ; University Hospital Centre Sestre milosrdnice , Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is the most common reason
patients seek care at pain management clinics and represents a
significant public health issue. The Ratz procedure, or epidurolysis,
is a minimally invasive technique aimed at reducing pressure on
spinal nerve roots to relieve pain intensity.
Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness of
epidurolysis in reducing both nociceptive and neuropathic pain. It
included 50 patients treated at the Department of Anesthesiology,
Intensive Care and Pain Therapy of University Hospital Centre
Sestre milosrdnice (Zagreb, Croatia) over the past five years, for
whom sufficient clinical data were available. Pain was assessed
using two validated tools: the Numeric Rating Scale for nociceptive
pain and the Pain Detect questionnaire for neuropathic pain. The
study group consisted of 50 patients (14 men and 36 women)
aged 28 to 85 years.
Results: Results showed a statistically significant reduction in pain
intensity following epidurolysis. Three weeks after the procedure,
mean pain scores were significantly lower compared to pretreatment
values (p < 0.01). Although there was a slight increase
in pain at the six-month follow-up, it remained significantly lower
than baseline levels (p < 0.05). Both nociceptive and neuropathic
components of pain showed measurable improvement, indicating
a broad therapeutic effect of the procedure.
Conclusions: This study confirms that epidurolysis leads to a
significant reduction in low back pain, affecting both nociceptive
and neuropathic components. These findings support the use of
epidurolysis as an effective minimally invasive option for managing
chronic low back pain in clinical practice.

Keywords

Epidural adhesiolysis; epidurolysis; chronic radicular pain; low back pain.

Hrčak ID:

343009

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/343009

Publication date:

24.12.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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