DOI: 10.36347/sajp.2020.v09i03.003

Pages: 120-123

Objective: Our purpose is to assess the effectiveness of phenol 7% in aqueous solution for neurolysis versus depomedrol 80 mg injection in patients with severe chronic nonmalignant sacroiliac joint pain syndrome who did not achieve adequate pain control (visual analog scale [VAS] 3) with conventional pain treatment. Design: A hundred patients with severe nonmalignant sacroiliac joint pain persisting for 6 months or longer were followed for more than 6 months after phenol neurolysis in this prospective observational study. All patients had previously received narcotic drugs, with or without nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents or adjuvants, without adequate pain relief. An aqueous solution of phenol 7% was used for chemical neurolysis. Sacroiliac joint injection was done in theatre under ultrasound guidance using linear probe. Results: Good pain relief (VAS ≤3) was achieved in 35 patients after neurolysis with phenol, and the mean VAS decreased from 8.74 ± 1.08 (range 7–10) before treatment to 1.93 ± 2.41 after treatment (P < 0.0001). Lower backache of lower Oswestry disability index (ODI) shows a lowering effect of phenol as compared with depomedrol at 3 years’ time interval p<0.001. Conclusion: The use of phenol 7% in aqueous solution is an effective and safe technique for neurolysis. Because of the potential risk of flaccid paralysis, this technique should be used in selected cases, far removed from motor nerves and the spinal cord.