Objective Discogenic low back pain is a widespread disorder around the world. Numerous methods have been developed and continue to be developed in the treatment of discogenic low back pain. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of epidural steroid administration (ESI) on disc bulging and disc protrusion in patients with discogenic low back pain. Materials and Methods The prospective randomized study reviewed medical records of 71 patients with discogenic low back pain who were radiologically proven as disc bulging and disc protrusion with or without radicular pain and did not require surgery at Neurosurgery Department between June 2021 and June 2022. All the patients underwent ESI and attended regular follow-up visits for a period of 6 months. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were assessed before the procedure, one week after the procedure, one month after the procedure, and six months after the procedure. Results There was no significant difference between patients with disc bulging and disc protrusion in terms of demographic characteristics. In both groups, both VAS and ODI scores showed a significant decrease in the post-procedure period compared to the pre-procedure period. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the reduction rate between post-procedure 1st week VAS scores and pre-procedure VAS scores. Conclusion The results indicated that lumbar interlaminar steroid injection is an effective treatment for disc bulging and discogenic pain due to protrusion and that both groups benefited from ESI administration. Additionally, except for the first week of injection, relief due to the use of epidural steroids was observed to be greater in the Disc Protrusion group compared to the Disc Bulging group.

Objective In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of epidural steroid administration (ESI) on disc bulging and disc protrusion in patients with discogenic low back pain. Materials and Methods The prospective randomized study reviewed medical records of 71 patients with discogenic low back pain who were radiologically proven as disc bulging and disc protrusion with or without radicular pain and did not require surgery at Neurosurgery Department between June 2021 and June 2022. All the patients underwent ESI and attended regular follow-up visits for a period of 6 months. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were assessed before the procedure, one week after the procedure, one month after the procedure, and six months after the procedure. Results There was no significant difference between patients with disc bulging and disc protrusion in terms of demographic characteristics. In both groups, both VAS and ODI scores showed a significant decrease in the post-procedure period compared to the pre-procedure period. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the reduction rate between post-procedure 1st week VAS scores and pre-procedure VAS scores. Conclusion The results indicated that lumbar interlaminar steroid injection is an effective treatment for disc bulging and discogenic pain due to protrusion and that both groups benefited from ESI administration. Additionally, except for the first week of injection, relief due to the use of epidural steroids was observed to be greater in the Disc Protrusion group compared to the Disc Bulging group.

Objective: To investigate the effect of local use of rifampicin (RIF) on the development of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) after lumbar microdiscectomy.

Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. We aimed to investigate the frequency of head and spinal injuries caused by trauma before and after the pandemic. To identify the situations that should be taken into account in isolation measures due to the possibility of the emergence of such epidemics in the globalizing world. Material and Method: Medical records of 2595 patients were accessed and 1309 patients with missing patient data were excluded from the study. Normal distribution of continuous variables was assessed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Continuous variables were compared using Mann-Whitney U test and categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Results: Data of 1286 patients were analyzed. Some parameters differ before and after the pandemic, age, injury mechanism, type of lesion, spinal trauma. The average age is 33.9 and the male-female ratio is 3/2. The most frequent admission to the emergency room was in the summer. In our data, there were significant differences in age, gunshot wounds in the trauma mechanism, soft tissue injury and contusion in lesions, and spinal trauma. Conclusion: The Covid pandemic has caused imperative changes in every aspect of life. This situation also caused a change in the reasons for applying to hospitals. It has been shown that the isolations performed because of Covid-19 did not affect the diagnosis, treatment, and mortality of the patients, although they changed the mechanisms of head and spine trauma. Even with compulsory isolation for public health, the approach to neurosurgical traumas that may occur should not change. It should not be forgotten that in the presence of the Covid 19 pandemic, it continues in other clinical situations.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China, and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Throughout the pandemic period, numerous countries around the world have implemented nationwide isolation measures to control the spread and transmission of COVID-19. During this period, the prevalence of some physical and mental diseases have increased due to prolonged home isolation measures. In the present study, we aimed to examine the effect of the COVID-19 isolation measures imposed in Turkey on patients admitted to our neurosurgery outpatient clinic.