title: [Cervical epidural steroid injections for symptomatic disc herniations].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervical radiculopathy is widespread in society, and the methods used in the treatment cover a wide range from conservative treatment to surgical treatment. There is not yet a full consensus on the use of invasive approaches for the optimal treatment of radicular pain. However, cervical epidural steroid injection (CESI) has been used in patients with symptoms of cervical discopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results of the six-month period of treatment of 58 patients, diagnosed as symptomatic cervical radiculopathy with application of CESI within a one-year period, were evaluated retrospectively. With the patients in a sitting position and with the head flexed, the epidural space was accessed from the C7-T1 aperture using the median approach and the hanging drop technique, and a pre- prepared 6 ml solution consisting of 80 mg triamcinolone with 10 mg levobupivacaine was injected following standard sterilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The post-CESI treatment VAS values of the patients were significantly lower than pretreatment VAS values. The treatment success rates for CESI application were 93% in the 1st month, 86% in the 3rd month, and 72% in the 6th month, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CESI application is an effective method in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy and reduces the rate of patients needing surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. drfbusta@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Burhanettin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.forename: Bünyamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Muslu
authors.forename: Rüveyda Irem
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Demircioğlu
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sert
authors.forename: Muhammet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gözdemir
authors.forename: Safinaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karabayirli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014221:Triamcinolone; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine