scholarly journals The Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency to Treatment Success of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection

2021 ◽  
pp. E619-W624
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Steroid Injection ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Epidural Steroid Injection ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection ◽  
Epidural Steroid

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is an interventional technique used to relieve disc herniation related back and radicular pain. Although few studies have investigated the factors predicting positive outcomes after TFESI, there is no data concerning the possible relationship between pre-procedure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and the response to TFESI. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of vitamin D deficiency to treatment success of fluoroscopy-guided transforaminal epidural steroid injection. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective assessment. SETTING: A university hospital interventional pain management center. METHODS: Nine hundred forty-eight patients received lumbosacral TFESI between January 2018 and December 2019 in a university hospital pain management center and were examined retrospectively for eligibility. Clinical and demographic data; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); pre-procedure laboratory tests, including serum 25(OH)D; pain scores at baseline, third week, and third month follow-ups were collected. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were recruited and divided into 2 groups with respect to vitamin D status. The number of patients with serum 25(OH)D level below 20 ng/mL was 57 and the number of patients with serum 25(OH)D level above 20 ng/mL was 26. Treatment success rates were significantly lower in vitamin D deficient group at third week and third month (P: 0.006, P: 0.01). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective nature and the absence of functional outcomes. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a lower probability of meaningful pain relief following TFESI. It may worth assessing serum vitamin D level prior to this intervention, although prospective investigation is necessary. KEY WORDS: Lumbar disc herniation, vitamin D deficiency, transforaminal epidural steroid injection, treatment success

scholarly journals Outcome of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection According to the Severity of Lumbar Foraminal Spinal Stenosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (21;1) ◽  
pp. 67-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Cheol Chang, MD Chang
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Stenosis ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Steroid Injection ◽  
Radicular Pain ◽  
Epidural Steroid Injection ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Group A ◽  
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection ◽  
Lumbar Radicular Pain ◽  
Epidural Steroid

Background: Lumbar foraminal spinal stenosis (LFSS) is a common cause of radicular pain in the lower extremities. Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is being used widely for controlling radicular pain induced by LFSS. The efficacy of TFESI has been demonstrated in previous studies. However, no study has evaluated the outcome of TFESI according to the severity of LFSS. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the outcome of TFESI in patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain due to LFSS according to the severity of LFSS by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study Design: A prospective observational study. Setting: A university hospital. Methods: Sixty patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain due to LFSS were included in this prospective study and received TFESI at our university hospital. Three patients were lost to followup. On the basis of sagittal lumbar MRI findings, we assigned patients with mild to moderate LFSS to group A (n = 31) and those with severe LFSS to group B (n = 26). Pain intensity was evaluated using a numeric rating scale (NRS) before treatment and at 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment. Results: Compared to pretreatment NRS scores, a significant decrease in NRS scores was observed in patients in both groups at 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment (P = 0.000). However, reductions in the NRS scores over time were significantly larger in group A (P = 0.023). Three months after treatment, 27 patients (87.1%) in group A and 11 patients (42.3%) in group B reported successful pain relief (pain relief of ≥ 50%). Limitations: This study had a small number of patients. Conclusions: After TFESI, chronic lumbar radicular pain was significantly reduced regardless of the severity of LFSS, and the effects of TFESI were sustained for at least 3 months after treatment. However, the outcome of TFESI was superior in the group with a mild to moderate degree of LFSS, compared to the group with a severe degree of LFSS. We believe that our study provides useful information for establishing a treatment plan for radicular pain due to LFSS. Key words: Lumbar foraminal spinal stenosis, transforaminal epidural steroid injection, disease severity, magnetic resonance imaging, numeric rating scale, corticosteroids

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