scholarly journals Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection under Fluoroscopy in Management of Chronic Low Back Pain with or without Radiculopathy

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
Rupak Bhattarai ◽  
Bandana Paudel ◽  
Sangeeta Subba ◽  
Kumud Pyakurel ◽  
Bijay K. C. ◽  
...  

Background: Low back pain with or without radiculopathy is most common presentations of chronic pain. Caudal epidural steroid injection is one of the treatment modalities of this type of pain syndromes. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 100 patient who presented in our pain clinic. These patients were given caudal epidural steroid injections under fluoroscopy guidance with 60 mg depo-methylprednisolone added to 0.5% lignocaine making a volume of 10 ml. All these patients were asked to follow up at pain clinic at 1 month, 3 months & 6 months to assess the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Straight leg Raise test (SLRT) & Patient satisfaction scale. Results: There was significant reduction in VAS score in one month, three months and six months follow up after caudal epidural steroid injection. The 50% reduction in pain was seen in 72 patients, 69 patients and 62 patients in one month, three months and six months respectively. The mean VAS score were 7.84 before pre-injection, 4.32 at one hour, 4.06 at one month, 4.18 at 3 months and 4.64 at 6 months after the procedure.The mean ODI were 35.16 before pre-injection, 32.12 at one hour, 28.14 at one month, 28.57 at 3 months and 28.68 at 6 months after the procedure. Conclusion: Caudal epidural steroid injections causes significant relief in pain symptoms of backache with or without radiculopathy and increases the quality of life.  

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1877-1879
Author(s):  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Faheem Mubashir Farooqi ◽  
Shumaila Jabbar

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition caused by narrowing of spinal canal. Steroid injection either lumbar or caudal can improve the functional outcome and low back pain. Aim: To compare the outcome of caudal epidural steroid injection with lumbar epidural steroid injection in treating spinal stenosis in patients suffering from sciatica. Methods: In this prospective study 338 patients having low backache due to spinal stenosis with sciatica were included from June 2013 to December 2014. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group I and II. Patients in Group I (160 patients) received caudal epidural steroid injections while the patients in Group II (178 patients) received lumbar epidural steroid injections. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess outcome of the Caudal and Lumbar steroid injections and was measured at 2 weeks, at 3months, and improvement was declared if VAS decrease ≥50% of baseline and Oswestry disability index decrease ≥40% at 3 months. Results: In group I, there were 70(43.75%) males and 90(56.25%) females, while in group II there were 98(55.1%) males and 80(44.9%) females. The mean age of the patients in group I was 46.46±10.37 (18-75 years) years and was 43.77±15.27 years (18-75 years) in group II (P=0.0619). The change in pain score (>50%) was observed in 159 (89.33%) in group II compared with 121 (75%) in group I (P=0.0008). Conclusion: Lumbar epidural of steroids injections are more effective then caudal epidural injection of steroids in treating spinal stenosis. MeSH words: Caudal epidural, Lumbar epidural, Sciatica


2010 ◽  
Vol 5;13 (5;9) ◽  
pp. 481-484
Author(s):  
Chong H. Kim

Background: Epidural steroid injections are commonly used in managing radicular pain. Most complications related to epidural injections are minor and self-limited. Flushing is considered as one such minor side effect. Flushing has been studied using various steroid preparations including methylprednisone, triamcinolone, and betamethasone but its frequency has never been studied using dexamethasone. Objective: This study evaluates the frequency of flushing associated with fluoroscopyguided lumbar epidural steroid injections using dexamethasone. Study Design: Retrospective cohort design study. Patients presenting with low back pain were evaluated and offered a fluoroscopically guided lumbar epidural steroid injection using dexamethasone via an interlaminar approach as part of a conservative care treatment plan. Setting: University-based Pain Management Center. Intervention: All injections were performed consecutively over a 2-month period by one staff member using 16 mg (4 mg/mL) of dexamethasone. A staff physician specifically asked each participant about the presence of flushing following the procedure prior to discharge on the day of injection and again on follow-up within 48 hours after the injections. The answers were documented as “YES” or “NO.” Results: A total of 150 participants received fluoroscopically guided interlaminar epidural steroid injection. All participants received 16 mg (4 mg/mL) of dexamethasone with 2 mL of 0.2% ropiviciane. Overall incidence of flushing was 42 out of 150 cases (28%). Of the 42 participants who experienced flushing, 12 (28%) experienced the symptom prior to discharge following the procedure. Twenty-seven of the 42 (64%) were female (P < 0.05). All the participants who experienced flushing noted resolution by 48 hours. No other major side effects or complications were noted. Limitations: Follow-up data were solely based on subjective reports by patients via telecommunication. Follow-up time was limited to only 48 hours, which overlooks the possibility that more participants might have noted flushing after the 48 hour limit. Conclusions: Flushing is commonly reported following epidural steroid injections. With an incidence of 28%, injections using dexamethasone 16 mg by interlaminar epidural route appear to be associated with more flushing reaction than previously reported with other steroid preparations. Additionally, female participants are more likely to experience flushing though the reactions seem to be self-limiting with resolution by 48 hours. Key words: flushing, side effects, epidural, back pain, lumbar, steroid, dexamethasone, injections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 2168-2170
Author(s):  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Faheem Mubashir Farooqi ◽  
Tauseef Ahmad Baluch ◽  
Shumaila Jabbar

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition caused by narrowing of spinal canal. Steroid injection either lumbar or caudal can improve the functional outcome and low back pain. Aim: To compare the outcome of caudal epidural steroid injection with lumbar epidural steroid injection in treating spinal stenosis in patients suffering from sciatica. Methods: In this prospective study 338 patients having low backache due to spinal stenosis with sciatica were included from June 2013 to December 2014. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group I and II. Patients in Group I (160 patients) received caudal epidural steroid injections while the patients in Group II (178 patients) received lumbar epidural steroid injections. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to assess outcome of the Caudal and Lumbar steroid injections and was measured at 2 weeks, at 3months, and improvement was declared if VAS decrease ≥50% of baseline and Oswestry disability index decrease ≥40% at 3 months. Results: In group I, there were 70(43.75%) males and 90(56.25%) females, while in group II there were 98(55.1%) males and 80(44.9%) females. The mean age of the patients in group I was 46.46±10.37 (18-75 years) years and was 43.77±15.27 years (18-75 years) in group II (P=0.0619). The change in pain score (>50%) was observed in 159 (89.33%) in group II compared with 121 (75%) in group I (P=0.0008). Conclusion: Lumbar epidural of steroids injections are more effective then caudal epidural injection of steroids in treating spinal stenosis. MeSH words: Caudal epidural, Lumbar epidural, Sciatica


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
R Sharma ◽  
SY Kothari ◽  
BB Thukral ◽  
S Chaudhary

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) due to disc herniation is a frequent cause of back pain. It is a debilitating condition having enormous medical and socio-economic effects. Epidural injection of steroids has been used to treat LBP for many decades. Despite widespread use and numerous publications there is significant controversy with regards to the medical necessity and indications for epidural injections, hence we planned this study. Materials and methods This was a prospective follow-up study. Forty-one patients of confirmed diagnosis of prolapse intervertebral disc (PIVD) were included. Caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) of 80 mg methylprednisolone acetate diluted in 20 ml of 0.9% saline was given. Outcome was assessed by Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Straight Leg Raise (SLR) and Modified Schober Test (MST) at baseline, one, three, six and twelve weeks follow-up. Results Thirty-seven patients completed the study. Significant improvement in patient's status was observed after CESI, as measured with MST, SLR, NRS and ODI at one and three weeks post injection and the improvement were maintained till 12th week. Eighty-three per cent of patients were satisfied at the end of the study and side-effects reported were mild. Conclusion CESI is a simple, safe and cost effective intervention procedure for the treatment of chronic LBP due to PIVD. It provides rapid pain relief and improvement of physical function starting within a week of injection.


2021 ◽  
pp. 52-54
Author(s):  
Ravi Ranjan Singh ◽  
Bharat Singh

INTRODUCTION: Low-back pain is a common clinical presentation of herniated lumbar disc. The incidence of low back pain is high in our country due to difcult working and living environment. The initial treatment of low back pain is conservative. Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is being slowly established as a simple, effective and minimally invasive treatment modality. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of epidural steroid injection for low back and radicular pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS :This is a Prospective observational study. It was carried out on the patients presenting with low back pain due to herniated lumbar disc not responding to conservational management and had Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) proven lumbar disc prolapsed at different level. Injection Methyl prednisolone 80 mg and 2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine was diluted in 8 ml of normal saline and injected into the affected lumbar epidural space. The functional status of the patient and the severity of pain were evaluated before injection and after injection during the follow-up period by using Ostrewy disability index and visual analogue score. RESULTS: Fifty six patients received the epidural steroid injections, among them three patients did not came for regular follow up till six months and six patients required surgery . remaining forty seven were analyzed , among them 27(55.44%) were male and 20(42.55%) were female. The functional status and pain response of the patients were improved signicantly during all the follow-up periods (p < 0.001). The success rate of this study was 83.92%. No major complications were encountered. CONCLUSION:The ESI is a simple, safe, effective and minimally invasive modality for the management of lumbar radicular pain.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6;12 (6;12) ◽  
pp. E355-E368
Author(s):  
Laxmaiah Manchikanti

Background: Speculated causes of post lumbar surgery syndrome include epidural fibrosis, acquired stenosis, and facet joint pain among other causes. Even though fluoroscopically directed caudal epidural injections and facet joint interventions are effective in some patients, others continue to suffer with chronic persistent pain. Percutaneous adhesiolysis with target delivery of medications has been demonstrated to be effective in these patients. However, the evidence for percutaneous adhesiolysis in managing post surgery syndrome has been questioned, coupled with a paucity of controlled trials. Study Design: A randomized, equivalence, controlled trial. Setting: An interventional pain management practice, a specialty referral center, a private practice setting in the United States. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis in patients with chronic low back and lower extremity pain in post surgery syndrome and compare with fluoroscopically directed caudal epidural steroid injections. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups: Group I (60 patients) receiving caudal epidural injections with catheterization up to S3 with local anesthetic, steroids, and 0.9% sodium chloride solution serving as the control group, and Group II (60 patients) receiving percutaneous adhesiolysis with targeted delivery of lidocaine, 10% hypertonic sodium chloride solution, and non-particulate Betamethasone serving as the intervention group. Randomization was performed by computer-generated random allocation sequence by simple randomization. Outcomes Assessment: Multiple outcome measures were utilized including the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0 (ODI), employment status, and opioid intake with assessment at 3, 6, and 12 months post treatment. Significant pain relief was described as 50% or more, whereas significant improvement in the disability score was defined as a reduction of 40% or more. Results: Significant pain relief (≥ 50%) and functional status improvement was recorded in 73% of patients in Group II versus 12% in Group I (P < 0.001). The average procedures per year were 3.5 with an average total relief of 42 out of 52 weeks in Group II and 2.2 procedures with total relief per year of 13 weeks in Group I (P < 0.001). Limitations: The results of this study are limited by potentially inadequate double blinding, by the lack of a placebo group, and the preliminary report of one-year follow-up. Conclusions: Percutaneous adhesiolysis in chronic function-limiting, recalcitrant low back pain in post lumbar surgery syndrome demonstrated effectiveness in 73% of the patients. Key words: Post lumbar surgery syndrome, post lumbar laminectomy syndrome, chronic low back pain, epidural adhesions, epidural steroid injections, percutaneous adhesiolysis, epidural fibrosis, spinal stenosis, randomized trial, comparative effectiveness


2016 ◽  
Vol 4;19 (4;5) ◽  
pp. 293-298
Author(s):  
Jae-Young Hong

Epidural steroid injections have been gaining popularity as an alternative to surgical treatment of radicular pain with associated spinal derangement. To determine the effectiveness and indications of lumbar epidural steroid injections in patients with or without surgery, we performed a prospective observational study. We gathered data from 262 degenerative short-segment spinal disease patients (affected at one or 2 levels) with greater than 12 weeks of medication-resistant radicular pain without neurological deficits but with moderate disability (visual analog scale < 6.5; Oswestry Disability Index < 35). All patients received initial fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections of the affected vertebral level(s) corresponding to their symptoms. Those with inadequate responses or who wanted subsequently surgery underwent decompression surgery. Clinical and demographic characteristics were assessed to compare the differences between the groups. Results: Of the 262 patients who received epidural steroid injections, 204 did not have operations for up to one year. However, 58 patients experienced inadequate relief of pain or wanted operations and therefore underwent surgery. At baseline, the 2 groups had similar mean disability indices and pain scores, as well as gender ratios, ages, and durations of symptoms (P > 0.05). In the patients who underwent surgery, the mean disability and pain scores were not significantly decreased after injection compared to those in the injection-alone group, although the scores for the injection plus surgery patients decreased significantly after surgery (P < 0.05). In contrast, patients who underwent epidural steroid injection alone experienced a significant decrease in disability and pain after injection, and that persisted up to one year of follow-up (P < 0.05). Epidural steroid injection can decrease the pain and disability in the majority of a moderate disability group for up to one year, although a significant number of patients underwent surgery regardless of injection. We recommend epidural steroid injection as a first-line treatment in patients with moderate disability that can be converted to surgery without significant delay. Key words: Epidural steroid injection, spinal surgery, lumbar spinal disease, lumbar radiculopathy, lumbar radicular pain


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