The Korean Journal of Pain

The Korean Pain Society (대한통증학회)
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Comparison of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection and Lumbar/Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection for the Treatment of Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

요천추부 신경근병증의 치료를 위한 경추간공 경막외 스테로이드 주입과 요추 및 미추 경막외 스테로이드 주입의 비교

  • Jung, Sun Sop (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Lee, Won Hyung (Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University)
  • 정선섭 (충남대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실) ;
  • 이원형 (충남대학교 의과대학 마취통증의학교실)
  • Received : 2005.03.25
  • Accepted : 2005.05.16
  • Published : 2005.06.30
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Abstract

Background: An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is usually used for the treatment of low back pain with radiculopathy. An ESI can be performed by two procedures: I) a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection and II) a transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Methods: Ninety-three patients, who had undergone transforaminal epidural steroid injection (Group II), and either a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection (Group I), were retrospectively studied. The authors assessed the pain, walking, standing improvement and side effects after each procedure, which were evaluated as being very good, good, fair or poor. Data were collected from the patients medical records and analyzed using the chi-squared test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the pain, walking, standing improvement and side effects between the two groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the pain improvement following transforaminal epidural steroid injection in those not effectively responding to an initial lumbar or caudal epidural block in Group II. Conclusions: A transforaminal epidural steroid injection is a useful alternative to a lumbar or caudal epidural steroid injection for low back pain with radiculopathy.

Keywords

References

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