Cilj istraživanja: Usporediti učinkovitost epiduralne primjene steroida (ESI) i perkutane laserske dekompresije diska (PLDD) kod bolesnika s lumbalnom radikularnom boli, kojima je navedena radikularna bol uzrokovana hernijom intervertebralnog diska. Utvrditi postoji li razlika u učinkovitosti obje metode kod hernije intervertebralnog diska s i bez radikularnog kontakta. Nacrt studije: prospektivna kohortna studija. Ispitanici i metode: Ispitanici su bolesnici liječeni na Zavodu za liječenje boli KBC-a Osijek u periodu od siječnja do lipnja 2018. godine. Kod 18 ispitanika primijenjena je metoda ESI, a druga skupina od 10 ispitanika liječena je metodom PLDD-a. U skupini kod koje je primijenjena ESI, 9 od 18 ispitanika imalo je diskoradikularni kontakt, a u skupini liječenih PLDD-om, njih 6 od 10 imalo je diskoradikularni kontakt. Metode koje smo koristili u procjeni uspješnosti liječenja jesu Lasegueov test, Pain Detect upitnik i Oswestry upitnik kojima su rezultati prikupljani prije samog zahvata te 15. i 30. dan. Rezultati: Prema Pain Detect upitniku, u skupini ispitanika bez diskoradikularnog kontakta, a kod kojih je primijenjena ESI, došlo je do značajnog smanjenja ukupne neuropatske boli, kao i u skupini ispitanika s diskoradikularnim kontaktom, kod kojih se primijenila PLDD. Oswestry upitnik zabilježio je značajno smanjenje stupnja invalidnosti u skupini ispitanika bez diskoradikularnog kontakta, a kod kojih je primijenjena ESI, kao i u skupini ispitanika s diskoradikularnim kontaktom, kod kojih se primijenila PLDD. Lasegueov test kod obje metode doveo je do povećanja stupnja pri kojem se javlja bol. Zaključak: Obje metode bile su uspješne u ispitanika kod kojih ne postoji diskoradikularni kontakt. PLDD jest uspješnija metoda liječenja kod ispitanika s diskoradikularnim kontaktom. ESI metoda liječenja pokazuje rezultate već nakon 2 tjedna, dok PLDD ima bolje rezultate nakon 4 tjedna.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of epidural steroid injection (ESI) and percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) in patients with lumbar radicular pain. Radicular pain in patients was caused by hernia of intervertebral disc. Furthermore, the aim was to determine whether there is a difference in the efficacy of both methods in treating hernia of intervertebral disc with and without radicular conflict. Study design: prospective cohort study Participants and Methods: Subjects were patients treated at the Clinical Hospital Center Osijek at the Department for Pain Treatment from January to June 2018. 18 patients were treated with ESI method and 10 were treated with PLDD method. In the group where ESI was administered, 9 out of 18 subjects recorded discoradicular conflict, and in the group treated with PLDD, 6 out of 10 recorded discoradicular conflict. The methods used to evaluate the success of the treatment included: the Lasegue test, the Pain Detect questionnaire, and the Oswestry questionnaire. The data from the questionnaires were collected prior to the procedure and on the 15th and 30th day. Results: According to the Pain Detect questionnaire, in patients without discoradicular conflict treated with ESI there was a significant reduction in total neuropathic pain. Significant reduction in pain was also recorded in in patients with discoradicular conflict, treated with PLDD. The Oswestry questionnaire also recorded a significant reduction in the degree of disability in both patients without discoradicular conflict treated with ESI and in patients with discoradicular conflict treated with PLDD. Conclusion: Both methods were successful in subjects without discoradicular conflict. PLDD is a more successful method of treatment in subjects with discoradicular conflict. The ESI method records improvement after 2 weeks, while PLDD has better results after 4 weeks.