Comparison of subcutaneous sterile water injection versus normal saline water injection over the sacrum in females presenting with severe back pain undergoing normal vaginal delivery at term.

Abstract

Objectives: Compare the mean pain score with subcutaneous sterile water injection versus normal saline water injection over the sacrum in females presenting with severe back pain undergoing normal vaginal delivery at term. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Setting: MCH Centre, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Period: 21-08-2019 to 20-11-2019. Material & Methods: The non-probability, consecutive sampling technique was used to include patients. In group A, patients injection was given 4 intracutaneous injections of 0.5 ml sterile water in the lumbar- sacral region in the sitting position. One injection was given at the posterior superior iliac spine on both sides and second injection at 1 cm medial, and 1-2 cm inferior to the first point on both the sides using an insulin needle. These points overlie the area called Michaelis' rhomboid. In group B, patients were given injections of 0.5 ml isotonic saline in the same region using an insulin needle. Then patients were followed-up for 90 minutes (1.5hours). After 90 minutes, pain on VAS was again measured. Results: In this study the mean pain score at baseline of the patient was 79.82±12.99 and the mean pain score after the 90 minutes was 54.05±18.52. Statistically there is highly significant difference was found between the study groups and pain after 90 minutes of the patients i.e. p-value=0.000 Conclusion: Our study results concluded that sterile water group patients showed better pain relief as compared to normal saline group in in females presenting with severe back pain undergoing normal vaginal delivery at term.