Publication:

Association between pre-operative high sensitive C-reactive protein and immediate post-operative radicular pain following prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc surgery

Background Nerve root compression is often inadequately understanding radicular pain due to prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc, a common neurosurgical presentation. Inflammation is proved as an important etio-pathological component of radiculopathy, even after surgery.

Methods This cross-sectional intervention study conducted from March 2022 to September 2023. Data collected from 45 patients with prolapsed lumber intervertebral Disc, who underwent surgical intervention in Department of Neurosurgery, BSMMU.

Results The mean±SD age of the patients was 38.4±11.6 years, most of them 37 (82.2%) aged within 29 to 60 years. Majority 30 (66.7%) of them were male. Patients presented with pain, numbness and weakness was 45 (100%), 33 (73.3%) and 8 (17.8%) respectively.  Among the participants most 36 (80%) had right sided and 9 (20%) had left sided radiation. The mean±SD level of pre-operative high sensitive C-reactive protein was 2.1±1.7. Pre-operative high sensitive C-reactive protein was significantly associated pre-operative, post-operative and mean change in visual analogue score (p<0.001, p<0.001, p= 0.006 respectively). Correlation of high sensitive C-reactive protein and VAS score (both pre and post-operative) were also statistically significant with p =0.017 and p <0.001 respectively.

Conclusions In our study, there is an association between pre-operative serum high sensitive C- reactive protein and post-operative radicular pain following surgical intervention in patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc.