Browsing by Author "Yucel, Murat"

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Comparative Effectiveness of Epidural Steroid Injections in Patients With Disc Bulging and Disc Protrusion
(Springernature, 2023) Cetin Sr, Eyup; Sah, Volkan; Zengin, Irfan; Arabaci, Oezkan; Akyol, Mehmet E.; Yucel, Murat
Purpose Discogenic low back pain is a widespread disorder in the world. Many methods have been developed and continue to be developed in the treatment of discogenic low back pain. We aimed to examine the effect of epidural steroid administration on disc bulging and disc protrusion in patients with discogenic low back pain. Design The clinical effects of interlaminar epidural steroids administered to 71 patients who were admitted to our clinic and whose treatment did not require surgery were radiologically divided into two groups disc bulging and disc protrusion. Patients were followed up for six months and clinical results were recorded. Methods The scores of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were measured before the procedure, one week after the procedure, one month after the procedure, and six months after the procedure. The normal distribution of continuous variables was evaluated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Continuous variables were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test and categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results There was no significant difference in demographic data in patients with disc bulging and disc protrusion. In the disc protrusion group, the VAS scores in the first week after, the first month after and the sixth month after the procedure showed a significant decrease compared to the pre-procedure. There was no significant difference between the disc bulging and protrusion groups in the first week of post-procedure VAS score reduction. In the Disc Bulging group, the ODI score one week after, one month after, and six months after the procedure showed a significant decrease compared to the pre-procedure. In the Disc Protrusion group, the ODI score one week after, one month after, and six months after the procedure showed a significant decrease compared to the pre-procedure. Conclusion There was strong evidence that lumbar interlaminar steroid injection is an effective treatment for disc bulging and discogenic pain due to protrusion. When the ODI and VAS scores of patients with both disc bulging and disc protrusion were evaluated, it was seen that they benefited from epidural steroid injection. In the disc protrusion group, except for the first week of injection, relief due to the use of epidural steroids was observed to be greater compared to disc bulging.
Efficacy of Local Dexamethasone Used in Operation Area After Lumbar Microdiscectomy on Postoperative Infection
(Professional Medical Publications, 2025) Yucel, Murat; Cetin, Eyup; Arabaci, Ozkan; Akyol, Mehmet Edip
Background & Objective: Postoperative wound infection, although relatively uncommon, remains a significant complication of spinal surgery. Preventive strategies must therefore be rigorously implemented before, during and after surgery. While local steroid administration is frequently employed during lumbar microdiscectomy to reduce neural edema, limited evidence exists regarding its effects on infection rates. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of locally applied dexamethasone in the surgical site on the incidence of postoperative infection. Methodology: This retrospective observational study was conducted between January 2020 to December 2022 at the Neurosurgery Departments of Van Y & uuml;z & uuml;nc & uuml; Y & imath;l University Medical School. A total of 200 patients (89 females, 111 males) who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy were included. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received local dexamethasone (8 mg) applied to the surgical site (n = 54) and those who did not (n = 146). No systemic steroids were used in either group. Results: In the dexamethasone group, no patients developed superficial wound infection, whereas 11 patients in the non-dexamethasone group did. No deep infection was observed in either group. Although the reduction in infection was not statistically significant, the local infection rate was significantly higher in the non-dexamethasone group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Local administration of dexamethasone following lumbar microdiscectomy was associated with a lower rate of superficial wound infection compared with no dexamethasone use. Postoperative infection remains an important clinical concern in spinal surgery, and careful attention to perioperative preventive measures is warranted.