Clinical experiences of transforaminal balloon decompression for patients with spinal stenosis.

Abstract

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a commonly treated with epidural injections of local anesthetics and corticosteroids, however, these therapies may relieve leg pain for weeks to months but do not influence functional status. Furthermore, the majority of patients report no substantial symptom change over the repeated treatment. Utilizing balloon catheters, we successfully treated with three patients who complained persistent symptoms despite repeated conventional steroid injections. Our results suggest that transforaminal decompression using a balloon catheter may have potential in the nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis by modifying the underlying pathophysiology.

• Authors: Sung Hoon Kim, Won Uk Koh, Soo Jin Park, Woo Jong Choi, Jeong Hun Suh, Jeong Gil Leem, Pyung Hwan Park, Jin Woo Shin
• Journal: The Korean journal of pain (Korean J Pain) Vol. 25 Issue 1 Pg. 55-9 (Jan 2012) ISSN: 2093-0569 [Electronic] Korea (South)
• PMID: 22259719 (Publication Type: Case Reports)