[Transforaminal epidural steroid injection under computed tomography guidance in relieving lumbosacral radicular pain].

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed the efficacy of transforaminal epidural steroid injections under computed tomography (CT) in relieving lumbosacral radicular pain due to spinal stenosis.

METHODS

Forty-two patients (7 males, 35 females; mean age 67 years; range 34 to 90 years) with lumbosacral radicular pain due to spinal stenosis were prospectively monitored following transforaminal epidural steroid injections under computed tomography. Injections were repeated twice in two patients (4.8%) and three times in one patient (2.4%). The severity of pain was assessed with the use of a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after injections (1st day, 1st week, 3rd week, 6th month, and the last follow-up). The mean follow-up period was 12.1 months (range 6 to 25 months).

RESULTS

The median VAS score before injections was 9 (range 6 to 10). During the first six months, the median VAS scores were always significantly lower than the preinjection score (p<0.005). The mean VAS score of 23 patients with a follow-up of at least a year was still significantly lower than that obtained at the end of six months (2.26 vs 2.52, p<0.005). No procedure-related complications occurred.

CONCLUSION

Selective transforaminal epidural steroid and analgesic injection under CT guidance is a safe and reliable conservative method to relieve lumbosacral radicular pain due to spinal stenosis.