Korean J Pain.  2008 Apr;21(1):38-43. 10.3344/kjp.2008.21.1.38.

An Analysis of the Outcome of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections in Patients with Spinal Stenosis or Herniated Intervertebral Discs

• Hong JH
• Lee YC
• Lee HM
• Kang CH

• KMID: 1480644
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2008.21.1.38

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spinal stenosis and herniated intervertebral discs are the principal causes of lumbosacral radiculopathy. This study was conducted to compare the therapeutic value and duration of pain relief of fluoroscopic guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) in patients with refractory radicular leg pain.
METHODS
Between August 2006 and March 2007, 87 patients (H group: patients with herniated intervertebral disc, S group: patients with spinal stenosis) who met the inclusion criteria were treated with fluoroscopic guided TFESIs. Prior to treatment, the VAS and ODI scores were determine to evaluate the degree of pain and level of disability. The degree of pain relief was then assessed 1 month after treatment with the TFESIs and graded as excellent (no residual pain), good (improvement of pain symptoms by more than 50%), fair (improvement of pain symptoms by less than 50%) and Poor (no improvement of pain). In addition, the duration of pain relief was evaluated by regular outpatient visits for 6 months, and by telephone interviews after 6 months.
RESULTS
The H and S group both had excellet results at 1 month after treatment with TFESIs showing improvements of 44.1% and 20.8% respectively. However this difference was not significant between groups. In addition, a duration of pain relief greater than 6 months was achieved in 32.4% of the patients in the H group and 37.7% of those in the S group.
CONCLUSIONS
TFESIs had a similar degree of therapeutic effectiveness and duration of pain relief in patients with spinal stenosis and herniated intervertebral discs.

Keyword

duration of pain relief; transforaminal epidural steroid injections

MeSH Terms

Humans
Intervertebral Disc
Interviews as Topic
Leg
Outpatients
Radiculopathy
Spinal Stenosis