scholarly journals Spontaneous Resolution of Presumed Acute Epidural Hematoma Formation After Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

2017 ◽  
pp. 189-193
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Lam

Epidural steroid injections are interventional pain procedures often used to treat lumbar radicular pain. The most serious complication of this procedure is the formation of a spinal epidural hematoma, which can result in profound permanent neurologic deficits if left untreated. A 76-year-old woman with mild lumbar spinal stenosis (L4-L5, L5-S1) and lumbar dextroscoliosis, previously on 81mg of aspirin daily (discontinued at 14 days prior to procedure) and not on anticoagulation therapy, underwent a lumbar epidural steroid injection (T12-L1). Post-procedurally, she developed bilateral leg paralysis. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study revealed a fluid collection concerning for hematoma. Neurosurgery was consulted, but at the time of evaluation, she had near resolution of her presenting symptoms and the decision was made to monitor her for 48 hours. Three months after discharge, MRI revealed no persistent symptoms or radiographic evidence of sequelae from epidural hematoma. The frequency of spinal epidural hematomas after epidural steroid injections is unknown. This patient did not have traditional risk factors of severe spinal stenosis or the use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents. A radiographic fluid collection was seen, which may represent blood or persistent injectate. A formal surgical diagnosis was not obtained, as her symptoms spontaneously improved without further need for intervention. We report the first case of presumed persistent injectate compression of the lumbar spinal cord, resulting in bilateral lower extremity weakness in a patient with dextroscoliosis, mimicking spinal epidural hematoma with spontaneous resolution without intervention. Key words: Epidural steroid injection, spinal epidural hematoma, dextroscoliosis, lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, lower extremity paralysis

Author(s):  
Go Eun Kim ◽  
Sung Jun Hong ◽  
Sang Soo Kang ◽  
Ho Joon Ki ◽  
Jae Hyun Park

Background: Spinal epidural hematoma is rare condition that can rapidly develop into severe neurologic deficits. The pathophysiology of this development remains unclear. There are several case reports of emergency hematoma evacuations after epidural steroid injection. Case: We report on two patients who developed acute, large amounts of epidural hematoma without neurological deficits after transforaminal epidural steroid injection. After fluoroscopy guided aspiration for epidural hematoma was performed, neurological defects did not progress and the hematoma was shown to be absorbed on magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions: These reports are believed to be the first of treating epidural hematoma occurring after transforaminal epidural steroid injection through non-surgical hematoma aspiration. If large amounts of epidural hematoma are not causing neurological issues, it can be aspirated until it is absorbed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Caputo ◽  
Oren N. Gottfried ◽  
Shahid M. Nimjee ◽  
Christopher R. Brown ◽  
Keith W. Michael ◽  
...  

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


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


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