Comparing the effect of injection compared to no injection of local methylprednisolone on prevertebral soft tissue swelling during operation in patients with cervical discopathy

Goal of study:The goal of this study is evaluation the effect of local methylprednisolone injection during cervical disc surgery on the prevertebral soft tissue swelling from third to seventh vertebrae. Design: This study is a randomized, single blind, clinical trial. Inclusion criteria: Myelopathy or radicular pain due to cervical disc herniation in one or two segments. Exclusion criteria: Cervical disc herniation more than two segments; history of previous surgery in same area; need to corpectomy. Sample size: Forty patients with myelopathy or radicular pain due to cervical disc herniation undergoing operation in two centers Qazvin Shahid Rajaee and Pasteur hospital. Patients by selection colored cards are divided into two equal groups. In interventional group (20 patients), at the end of operation 80 milligrams methylprednisolone is injected into the retropharyngeal and paravertebral muscles. In control group (20 patients) no injection is used. Patients are unaware of the injection or no ninjection of drug. In all patients, lateral neck radiography is performed one day before surgery, two days and ten days after operation later. All radiographs are evaluated by one radiologist. Primary outcome: Prevertebral soft tissue swelling based on the ratio of prevertebral soft tissue thickness to the anteroposterior diameter of vertebral body is calculated on third to seventh cervical vertebrae. Secondary outcome: Postoperative local pain and dysphagia are compared in the second and tenth day after operation in both groups.

Qazvin University of Medical Sciences