[Evaluation of the efficacy of CT-guided epidural and transforaminal steroid injections in patients with diskogenic radiculopathy].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of CT-guided epidural and transforaminal steroid injections in patients with diskogenic radiculopathy.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Seventy patients underwent CT guided injections after failure of medical management. Only patients with minimal degenerative changes and diskogenic monoradicular symptoms were treated. Only two patients with fibrosis were included.

RESULTS

78.6% of patients experienced persistent symptomatic improvement. No difference was noted between lumbar segments and there was no more failures with epidural injections compared to transforaminal injections. Cervical disk herniations responded better than lumbar disk herniations. Good results were obtained in younger patients (M=46.25 years), symptomatic for 3-4 months or less, and with clear radicular symptoms and clinical neurological deficits (hypoesthesia, absent DTR) without motor deficit. No patient with severe spinal stenosis (S-) was included and the disk herniations were small (b1, b2, c1, c2 or d1, d2). Only a single injection was needed. Cortivazol provided superior results compared to dexamethasone.

CONCLUSION

CT-guided injections should be included in the therapeutic armamentarium after standard medical management, with cure as the goal.