title: A retrospective study on the efficacy of pubic symphysis corticosteroid injections in the treatment of pubic symphysis pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report immediate and follow-up pain intensity outcomes of fluoroscopically guided contrast- enhanced pubic symphysis corticosteroid injections for patients with pubic symphysis pain (PSP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective medical record review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient rehabilitation clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with PSP who underwent pubic symphysis corticosteroid injection (PSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pubic symphysis corticosteroid injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain intensity as measured by numeric rating scale (NRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients (4 men and 10 women) underwent PSI. Five patients had PSP for less than 6 months, nine had chronic pain (>than 6 months). In 7 of the 10 women the pain was pregnancy related. All patients received other treatments prior to injection. Pubic symphysis tenderness was the most common physical examination finding (13/14 patients). Follow-up pain intensity (PI)-NRS improvement of greater than 2 points was considered clinically significant. At follow-up, improvement was not statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, z=1.62 P=0.10). Patients with pain <6 months did not have a greater likelihood of benefit at follow-up compared with those with pain for >6 months (Fisher's exact test, P=0.775).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSIs do not provide clinically or statistically significant relief at follow-up in patients with PSP.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 E. Superior St. #1134,Chicago, IL 60625, USA. cfitzgerald@ric.org
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plastaras
authors.forename: Trudy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mallinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones