Researchers conducted the prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial between July 2011 and January 2012 at a single institution. A total of 115 eligible patients were included.
Researchers gave 56 patients 1 mL of methylene blue solution at a concentration of 0.5 percent and 59 patients received an equivalent volume of saline. Researchers evaluated primary outcomes of lower back pain with or without radicular pain at 24 hours and three months postoperatively after lumbar open discectomy.
Here are four points:
1. Investigators found a significant decrease from preoperative radicular pain scores in both groups 24 hours after surgery.
2. Researchers discovered the mean pain scores were significantly lower in the MB group compared with the control group.
3. The severity of lower back pain showed a significant decrease in both groups at the three-month follow-up evaluation.
4. The MB group experienced a significantly greater reduction for this measure than the control group.
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