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High-Intensity Laser Therapy Versus Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in Chronic Lumbar Disc Herniation-Related Low Back and Radicular Pain

NCT07688915 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 24

Last updated 2026-07-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This prospective, randomized, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy and fluoroscopy-guided transforaminal epidural steroid injection in patients with chronic low back pain and lumbar radiculopathy. Eligible patients will be randomized into two parallel groups. One group will receive high-intensity laser therapy, and the other group will receive transforaminal epidural steroid injection. All participants will also receive a standardized home-based exercise program. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale. Secondary outcomes will include functional disability, neuropathic pain symptoms, quality of life, and functional walking capacity.

Conditions

  • Lumbar Disc Herniation
  • Chronic Low Back Pain
  • Radicular Pain
  • Lumbar Radiculopathy

Interventions

DEVICE

High-Intensity Laser Therapy

High-intensity laser therapy will be applied using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm. Treatment will be delivered in 15 sessions over 3 weeks to the lumbar paravertebral region. Each session will last approximately 10-12 minutes with a total energy dose of 2500 joules.

PROCEDURE

Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections

Fluoroscopy-guided transforaminal epidural steroid injection will be performed by an experienced physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. After confirmation of needle placement with contrast medium, 2 mL of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride and 8 mg/2 mL dexamethasone will be administered.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-08-01
Primary Completion
2026-10-01
Completion
2026-10-01

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07688915 on ClinicalTrials.gov