title: Epidural steroid injections.
abstract: Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is the most commonly performed intervention in pain clinics across the United States. This article provides an evidence-based review of ESI, including data on efficacy, patient selection, comparison of types, and complications. The data strongly suggest that ESI can provide short-term relief for radicular symptoms but are less compelling for long-term effects or relief of back pain. Although it has been asserted that transforaminal ESIs are more efficacious than interlaminar injections, the evidence supporting this is limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Indy M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
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