Effect of Epidural Steroid Injection on Bone Mineral Density and Markers of Bone Turnover in Postmenopausal Women

Background: Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is widely used to manage low back pain. ESIs are commonly performed to treat pain accompanying intervertebral disc prolapse, spinal stenosis, facet joint pathologies, and other degenerative spinal pathologies. Corticosteroids for musculoskeletal conditions, regardless of the route of administration, can reduce bone mineral density (BMD) and increase the risk of fracture. With paraspinal administration of steroids, the severity of risk is enhanced as the steroid is being deposited in close proximity to bone. BMD and molecular markers of bone metabolism are the standard methods to assess the effect of any insult on bone strength and bone metabolism. Carboxy terminal crosslinked telopeptides of type 1 collagen (sCTX) and serum Procollagen Type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) are the reference markers of bone resorption and formation, respectively. Objective: We conducted this study to determine the effect of ESI on BMD and bone turnover markers. Study Design: This was a prospective observational cohort study, involving a cohort of 264 patients between the ages of 40 to 60 years who were advised to undergo ESI at L3-4 or L4-5 by their pain physician. Setting: Research was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital pain clinic in collaboration with the department of orthopaedics and radiodiagnosis. Methods: Serum CTX-1, P1NP, and pre-ESI BMD of the spine, femur neck, and dual femur were evaluated at baseline; these same parameters were serially evaluated post ESI on follow-ups at 1, 3, and 6 months. Additional follow-up at 10 days post ESI was called for evaluation of bone turnover markers (BTMs). A paired t test was used to analyze changes in BMD and BTMs vs baseline within the group. Cumulative incidence and relative risk of moderate to markedly low BMD were calculated using standard formulas. Any fractures sustained during follow-ups were also evaluated thoroughly and quantified separately. A P value less than .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The proportion of pre-ESI moderately to markedly low BMD was 10.22% in the study population. There was a statistically significant increase in serum CTX 10 days post ESI which persisted at the one-month and 3-month follow-ups. There was no significant change in serum P1NP level post ESI after 7 days and at the one-month follow-up. The mean value of serum P1NP was, however, significantly higher at the 3-month follow-up. Statistical comparison of the mean BMD value at the spine and femur neck revealed statistically significant decline 3 months post ESI. There was no significant impact of ESI on the total femur BMD. The cumulative incidence of moderately low to markedly low BMD over a period of 6 months in the study population was 45 out of 223, i.e., 20.17%. Limitations: The study’s primary limitations included its high dropout rate, a larger reference range for BTMs, making them a less specific tool for comparison, and the absence of a control group. ESI has a negative impact on the BMD of the hip and spine. Reduced BMD should be considered as a potential side effect of ESI. Key words: Bone mineral density, bone turnover markers, epidural steroid injection, low back ache, osteoporosis Pain Physician 202

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Effect of Epidural Steroid Injection on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women According to Antiosteoporotic Medication Use

January 2018 - Pain Physician ◽

10.36076/ppj/2016.19.389 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6;19 (6;7) ◽

pp. 389-396

Author(s):

Jeong Hun Suh

Keyword(s):

Bone Mineral Density ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Femoral Neck ◽

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Bone Mineral ◽

Steroid Injection ◽

Epidural Steroid Injection ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Group 2 ◽

Epidural Steroid

Background: No studies to date have compared bone mineral density (BMD) changes after epidural steroid injection (ESI) between postmenopausal patients taking antiosteoporotic medication and those who are not. Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between ESI and BMD changes in postmenopausal patients according to antiosteoporotic medication use. Study Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Asan Medical Center, Korea. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed postmenopausal women who underwent ESI using dexamethasone. All women had received a diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis and their BMD had been measured before and after treatment. BMD was evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, femoral trochanter, and total femur, and was recorded as absolute g/cm2 and T-scores. A total of 126 patients were included in the final analysis. ESI patients were grouped as follows: group 1 (n = 74) ESI patients who took antiosteoporotic medication; group 2 (n = 52) ESI patients who did not take antiosteoporotic medication. Results: In group 1, there were no significant differences between baseline and post-treatment BMD absolute values (g/cm2) in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, femoral trochanter, and total femur. In group 2, significant changes in the post-treatment BMD absolute values (g/cm2) from baseline were observed in the femoral neck (–1.48 ± 3.84%), femoral trochanter (–2.80 ± 7.50%), and total femur (–2.23 ± 4.52%), but not in the lumbar spine (–2.23 ± 4.52%). Limitations: This study contained a small sample size, no control group, and no long-term follow-up of the BMD changes after ESI. Conclusions: Our data provide new evidence indicating that ESI causes BMD changes in postmenopausal women who do not take antiosteoporotic medication. Thus, we recommend that prophylactic antiosteoporotic treatment be considered for postmenopausal women who require ESI treatment. Keywords: Glucocorticoid, osteoporosis, bone mineral density, epidural steroid injection, antiosteoporotic medication, postmenopausal women, dexamethasone

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Low Bone Mineral Density, But Not Epidural Steroid Injection, Is Associated with Fracture in Postmenopausal Women with Low Back Pain

January 2018 - Pain Physician ◽

10.36076/ppj.2012/15/441 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 6;15 (6;12) ◽

pp. 441-449

Author(s):

Byeongmun Hwang

Keyword(s):

Bone Mineral Density ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Bone Mineral ◽

Steroid Injection ◽

Epidural Steroid Injection ◽

Low Back ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Epidural Steroid

Background: Therapy with glucocorticoids often results in bone loss and glucocorticoidinduced osteoporosis. However, the relationship between epidural steroid injection (ESI), bone mineral density (BMD), and vertebral fracture remains to be determined. Objective: To establish a relationship between ESI, BMD, and vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with low back pain. Study Design: This study was a retrospective, nonblinded, cross-sectional clinical study. Setting: University-based pain management center. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of postmenopausal women with low back pain who were treated with ESI. A total of 352 postmenopausal women were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of patients without fracture and Group 2 consisted of those with fractures. The results of BMD measurements, as well as any fragility fractures, the anatomical site involved, and the treatment administered, were also recorded. BMD was measured in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femur after the treatment. Results: Of the 352 patients, 218 (62%) had no fractures while 134 (38%) sustained a fracture. The age was significantly higher among patients who sustained fractures, and BMD at the lumbar spine, total femur, and femoral neck regions was significantly lower among patients who sustained fractures. In each region, the prevalence of osteoporosis was significantly higher in patients with fracture than in patients without fracture (all P < 0.05). Age, height, and weight were associated with low BMD. However, our study showed no consistent correlation between BMD and the mean number of ESIs, mean total dose of glucocorticoids, or mean duration of ESIs. Limitations: First, this study is limited by the fact that it was retrospective. Second, the number of cases receiving very frequent, high-dose glucocorticoid injections was very small. Conclusions: Older age and lower BMD were associated with osteoporotic fracture in postmenopausal women treated for low back pain with ESI. The ESIs were not associated with low BMD or fracture. Key words: Bone mineral density, epidural steroid injection, fracture, glucocorticoids, low back pain, postmenopause.

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