title: Complications of fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural injections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the incidence of complications of fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural injections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort design study in which chart review was performed on patients, who presented with radiculopathy and received fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural steroid injections. All injections were performed consecutively over a 12-mo period. An independent observer reviewed medical charts, which included a 24-hr post procedure telephone call by an ambulatory surgery center nurse, who asked a standardized questionnaire about complications after the injections. Physician follow-up office notes 1 to 3 wk after injection along with epidurograms were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The charts of 139 patients, who received 257 injections, were reviewed. Complications per injection included 12 episodes of insomnia the night of the injection (4.7%), 9 transient nonpositional headaches that resolved within 24 hr (3.5%), 8 increased back pain (3.1%), 6 facial flushing (2.3%), 2 vasovagal reactions (0.8%), 2 episodes of nausea (0.8%), and 1 increased leg pain (0.4%). No dural punctures occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No major complications occurred. The incidence of minor complications was 15.6% per injection. All reactions resolved without morbidity and no patient required hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Florida Spine Institute, Clearwater 33765, USA.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Botwin
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bouchlas
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Torres-Ramos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rittenberg
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids