CAUDAL ADHESIOLYSIS (RACZ PROCEDURE)

This injection, generally performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, relieves low back and leg pain most often caused by scarring from a prior back surgery. The procedure is performed with the patient lying face down with a cushion placed under the stomach.

Anesthetic Injected

The physician locates the small opening at the base of the sacrum and injects a local anesthetic that numbs the skin and all the tissue down to the surface of the sacral hiatus.

Needle Inserted

The physician then guides the needle through the anesthetized track and into the epidural space.

Contrast Solution

A contrast solution is injected. The physician uses the fluoroscope to see the painful areas and to confirm the correct location of the needle tip.

Catheter Inserted

A small, flexible catheter is fed through the needle and positioned at the location of scarring.

Medication Injected

A steroid anesthetic mix as well as other medication are injected through the catheter and around the scarring, bathing the painful area in medication and dissolving scar tissue.

End of Procedure

The needle and catheter are removed. In some cases, it may be necessary to keep the catheter in place to allow for more injections over the next few days. It also may be necessary to repeat the procedure a few months later to reduce scar tissue further.