Threshold
IMPORTANT NOTICE: For the foreseeable future, the NNUH will NOT be accepting referrals for Ultrasound Guided Steroid Injections
Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) will fund steroidal epidural injections for acute and severe sciatica with or without the presence of low back pain on a restricted basis for patients who meet ALL the following criteria:
- patients undergo an appropriate multidisciplinary biopsychosocial assessment in MDT clinic
- patients are permitted a single epidural steroid injection
- If there is documented evidence of functional improvement lasting > 3 months this can be repeated at consultant discretion and at intervals of no less than 6 months.
NB: if efficacy of epidurals decline, then this management strategy should be curtailed in these patients
NICE have provided a link to United Kingdom Spine Society Board website for further detailed information on pathways that can be assessed by relevant groups for local implementation - https://www.ukssb.com/improving-spinal-care-project
Cases for Individual Consideration
On a case to case basis, patients might be eligible for surgical intervention, in consideration of their exceptionality. The requesting clinician must provide information to support the case for being considered an exception, by submitting an individual funding request.
Ratification date |
16 April 2019 |
Next Review date |
April 2022 |