title: Interlaminar versus transforaminal epidural steroid injections for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common condition that causes axial low back pain, radicular pain, and neurogenic claudication. Epidural steroid injections are commonly used for the treatment of radicular symptoms and neurogenic claudication associated with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis. No prior study has evaluated whether transforaminal or interlaminar epidural steroid injections produce better clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each technique, 19 patients were retrospectively identified who received their first fluoroscopically guided epidural steroid injection for radicular and neurogenic claudication symptoms caused by lumbar spinal stenosis over a 12-month interval. All patients had corresponding MRI findings and had failed previous non-invasive therapies. Outcomes included the visual analog scale (VAS, 0-10 scale) immediately before the injection, immediately after the injection, and upon follow up at 4-6 weeks. Surgery rates and number of repeat injections over a 3 year period were also analyzed. The patient groups were matched for age and level of stenosis on MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in pre injection to follow up VAS scores (P=0.919). The difference between number of repeat injections between the interlaminar and transforaminal groups was not statistically significant (0.91-mean 2.47 and 2.58, respectively). Both the interlaminar and transforaminal groups experienced statistically significant improvement in VAS scores from before the injection to after the injection, and on follow up. Low numbers underwent surgery (11% in the interlaminar group vs 15% in the transforaminal group, not significant, P=0.63).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the current study, neither transforaminal nor interlaminar steroid injections resulted in superior short term pain improvement or fewer long term surgical interventions or repeat injections when compared with each other.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. clarkcharlessmith@gmail.com
authors.forename: Clark C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Booker
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Schaufele
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004824:Epidural Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000188:drug therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013256:Steroids