Chronic lumbar radicular pain is a frequently encountered condition that can cause marked pain, limited physical function, and a substantial decline in quality of life. For patients whose symptoms do not respond adequately to conservative treatment, caudal epidural adhesiolysis is considered a minimally invasive treatment option, particularly when epidural fibrosis or adhesions are thought to contribute to persistent pain.
Even so, treatment response after caudal epidural adhesiolysis is not the same for every patient. Some individuals experience meaningful clinical improvement, whereas others obtain limited benefit. Understanding which factors are associated with a favorable outcome may help clinicians make better treatment decisions and identify patients who are more likely to benefit from the procedure.
In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the medical records of patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain who underwent caudal epidural adhesiolysis. The purpose of the study is to evaluate clinical success after the procedure and to explore demographic, clinical, and procedure-related factors that may influence treatment outcomes.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
—
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age 18 years or older
* Underwent caudal epidural adhesiolysis at the Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Algology Clinic between March 1, 2023, and January 1, 2026
* Evaluated with a diagnosis of chronic lumbar radicular pain or pain related to epidural adhesions
* Availability of pre-procedural clinical data in the medical records
* Availability of procedural technical records in the medical file, including at minimum the procedure date, the level to which the catheter was advanced, and the medications administered and/or procedural details
* Availability of post-procedural follow-up data including Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients younger than 18 years
* Patients who underwent caudal epidural adhesiolysis outside the period from March 1, 2023, to January 1, 2026, at the Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Algology Clinic
* Patients without a diagnosis of chronic lumbar radicular pain or pain related to epidural adhesions
* Missing essential pre-procedural clinical data in the medical records
* Insufficient procedural technical documentation in the medical file
* Absence of post-procedural clinical follow-up data
* Missing Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores in the follow-up records
Primary outcome measure(s)
Clinical success based on change in pain intensity measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) — Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (0-10) before caudal epidural adhesiolysis and during follow-up.
Trial sites (1)
Facility
City
Region
Status
Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pain Medicine
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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