Epidural adhesions is an excessive build-up of scarring in the epidural space in the lumbar spine, due to leakage into the lumbar spine’s epidural space following surgical intervention. Adhesions can cause persistent leg pain.
What are Epidural Lysis of Adhesions?
Epidural Lysis of Adhesions is a more aggressive approach to a typical epidural steroid injection. An epidural lysis of adhesions is a procedure that was developed to help decrease chronic low back pain due to adhesions and scar tissue formation.
This is a catheter injected procedure and is inserted into the epidural space in order to access the area of adhesions. Epidural adhesions are most commonly observed following surgical intervention of the spine, leakage of disc material into the epidural space following annular tear or an inflammatory response. Scar tissue may restrict movement of nerves causing inflammation, therefore, creating pain.
How Does a Epidural Lysis of Adhesions Work?
The physician will inject local anesthetic to numb up the area prior to placing the catheter through the skin. Once the local anesthetic has set in, the epidural needle will then be introduced through the skin and into the sacral hiatus.
Following placement of the epidural needle, the catheter is advanced into the area of adhesions/scar tissue. The movement of the catheter is continuously monitored with the X-ray to assure safe and effective positioning. Contrast material will then be injected into the epidural space to outline the epidural space, this is called and epidurogram. Other fluids will then be injected to relieve pain, dissipate scar tissue, and reduce inflammation.