Safety and efficacy of CT-guided transforaminal cervical epidural steroid injections using a posterior approach.
OBJECTIVE
Image-guided cervical transforaminal epidural injections play an important role in the management of cervical radicular pain syndromes. The safety and efficacy of these injections via an anterolateral approach has been well-studied. The goal of this retrospective review was to determine the safety and efficacy of CT-guided transforaminal epidural injections by using a posterior approach.


METHODS
Retrospective review of patient records was used to define VNPS and RMDI of patients undergoing CT-guided transforaminal cervical epidural injections between 2006 and 2010. Pain scores were recorded preprocedure, immediately postprocedure, at 2 weeks, and at 2 months. The RMDI was recorded preprocedure, at 2 weeks, and at 2 months. Data analysis of 247 patients was completed. Differences in VNPS scores and the RMDI were then compared on the basis of a CT-guided approach (anterolateral versus posterior).


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference in the degree of pain relief and improvement in the RMDI between the CT-guided transforaminal anterolateral approach and the posterior approach at 2 weeks and at 2 months. Both groups demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in pain scores and the RMDI. Approximately 35% of patients in both groups demonstrated >50% pain relief at 2 months. There were no serious complications in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
CT-guided transforaminal cervical epidural injections by using a posterior approach are safe and effective.
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. wald.john2@mayo.edu
J T
JT
Wald
T P
TP
Maus
J R
JR
Geske
R E
RE
Carter
F E
FE
Diehn
T J
TJ
Kaufmann
J M
JM
Morris
N S
NS
Murthy
K R
KR
Thielen
D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013256:Steroids