Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc
Transforaminal epidural steroid injection under computed tomography guidance in relieving lumbosacral radicular pain
Abstract
Objectives: We analyzed the efficacy of transforaminal epidural steroid injections under computed tomography (CT) in relieving lumbosacral radicular pain due to spinal stenosis.
Methods: Forty-two patients (7 males, 35 females; mean age 67 years; range 34 to 90 years) with lumbosacral radicular pain due to spinal stenosis were prospectively monitored following transforaminal epidural steroid injections under computed tomography. Injections were repeated twice in two patients (4.8%) and three times in one patient (2.4%). The severity of pain was assessed with the use of a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after injections (1st day, 1st week, 3rd week, 6th month, and the last follow-up). The mean follow-up period was 12.1 months (range 6 to 25 months).
Results: The median VAS score before injections was 9 (range 6 to 10). During the first six months, the median VAS scores were always significantly lower than the preinjection score (p
Methods: Forty-two patients (7 males, 35 females; mean age 67 years; range 34 to 90 years) with lumbosacral radicular pain due to spinal stenosis were prospectively monitored following transforaminal epidural steroid injections under computed tomography. Injections were repeated twice in two patients (4.8%) and three times in one patient (2.4%). The severity of pain was assessed with the use of a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after injections (1st day, 1st week, 3rd week, 6th month, and the last follow-up). The mean follow-up period was 12.1 months (range 6 to 25 months).
Results: The median VAS score before injections was 9 (range 6 to 10). During the first six months, the median VAS scores were always significantly lower than the preinjection score (p