Column Case Report No. 179｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo) Column
November 20, 2024
The patient
A male patient in his 80s.
The patient’s medical history to date
In 2023, the pain in the patient’s lower legs, buttocks and lower back became more intense. He received rehabilitation treatment at a nearby clinic, but his condition did not improve.
He decided to visit our clinic because his condition showed no signs of improvement.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main areas of pain and numbness: lower back, lower limbs
Bending forward: no change
Backward bending: difficult, but not painful
Lasegue test: negative
Tenderness: spinous process of L3/4/5
Intermittent claudication: positive, appearing after walking for a distance of 500m or less.
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
His ankles hurt when standing still or walking.
The pain often appears at the start of a movement.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5 – spinal canal stenosis
- L3/4, 4/5, 5/s – intervertebral disc degeneration
- L4 – anterolisthesis
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5 – spinal canal stenosis due to anterolisthesis in L4 can be seen, and there is a high possibility that this is the cause of the main symptoms
・Narrowing of the intervertebral foramen due to L3/4, 5/s disc degeneration was observed, and this may also be the cause of the main symptoms
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Kono.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 10 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by herself.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Additional information about the Cellgel method we have introduced in this column.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per area (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen per 5 areas (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Nerve damage is not a zero possibility due to the very nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage so far in either report cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to local anesthetics. Symptoms may temporarily worsen during the first week or two after treatment. This is believed to be due to the decompression effect of the implant, which retracts the surrounding tissues. In addition, if the disc is almost completely collapsed, treatment may be difficult. The doctor hold a consultation with you during your visit to the clinic to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Blog page explaining the Cellgel method in an easy-to-understand manner
The Cellgel method on our treatment methods page
This article was written by the Administrative Director of our clinic
