VERAS, E. S.; SOUZA JÚNIOR, S. O.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/3662139613934411; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2522272229068401; VERAS, Elton dos Santos.; SOUZA JÚNIOR, Sebastião Olacy de.
Resumo:
A usually unilateral lumbar pain that radiates to the posterior lateral aspect of the ipsilateral leg
characterizes sciatica. It has a pattern of distribution following approximately the dermatome
corresponding to the sciatic nerve, having a stitch or burning aspect and sometimes presenting
loss of sensitivity of the affected region and loss of strength in plantar flexion and in the knee,
especially when originated by disc herniation. A portion of the patients diagnosed with sciatica
does not respond well to conservative treatment with analgesics and physiotherapy, requiring
invasive surgical treatments that have limited duration of effectiveness. Thus, the objective of
this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block, which is a
safe and low complexity method, as an alternative in relieving painful symptoms in patients
diagnosed clinically with Sciatica. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
clinical trial was performed in a patients clinically diagnosed with Sciatica at the Neurology,
Rheumatology and Orthopedics clinics of the Alcides Carneiro University Hospital in Campina
Grande, Paraíba, using the Visual Analogue Scale as a measure for reduction of pain perception,
being applied before, immediately after and after 7 days of the procedure. Results: There was
a statistically significant difference between the three measures of the VAS (p <0.05), thus
allowing us to assume that there was analgesia as a result of the procedure. We did not observe
improvement in the betterment of sleep quality after the procedure, measured by the
Pittsburgh’s scale. Patients’ demonstrated satisfaction as for the realization of the procedure
and analgesia obtained, but were not satisfied with the results regarding daily activities,
betterment of sleep quality and other symptoms. Conclusions: There was a statistically
significant improvement in patients’ perception of pain, although further clarification is needed
as to specify the origin of this analgesia. It seems that this reduction in pain was not followed
by improvements in the capacity for daily activities, sleep quality and other symptoms, in
accord to the patients’ perceptions.