A Comparative Study of Triamcinolone Acetonide with Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain

Background: Low back pain is the most common complaint of young adults in case of intervertebral disc herniation. Its incidence is high in India due to difficult working as well as living environment. Objectives: The present study was carried out to compare the efficacy of injecting epidural triamcinolone with methylprednisolone sodium succinate in the management of chronic low back pain. Patients and Methods: This study was carried on patients presenting with low back pain who had MRI proven lumbar disc prolapsed at different levels and were not responding to conservational management. The study was carried out on 50 subjects divided into 2 groups, Group A and Group B of 25 each. Group A was given injection triamcinolone 80 mg with 2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine diluted in 8 ml of normal saline into the lumbar epidural space. Group B was given injection methylprednisolone sodium succinate 80 mg with 2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine diluted in 8 ml of normal saline into the lumbar epidural space. Observations: The success rate in group A was found to be 68% and the success rate in group B was found to be 80%. The visual analog scale score in group A was decreased by 20% after one week and by 50 ? 60% at the end of 6 months. However, in group B, the visual analog scale score decreased by 30% after one week and by 70-80% at the end of 6 months. Conclusion: Methylprednisolone sodium succinate was found to be more efficacious in the management of chronic low back pain than triamcinolone acetonide.