title: Fluoroscopy guided cervical interlaminar steroid injections in patients with cervical pain syndromes: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this retrospective study was to examine the efficacy of fluoroscopically guided cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injections (CILESI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five patients who received their first fluoroscopically guided CILESI over a 12 month interval were retrospectively identified. Patients who had failed conservative non-surgical management and patients who were otherwise candidates of surgery were included in this trial of CILESI. The verbal numerical rating scales (VNRS) before the treatment, within one hour after the treatment, and upon follow-up, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most preferred intervention level of CILESI was C5-C6. There was a statistically significant improvement in the VNRS scores from before the injection to immediately after the injection, and upon follow-up. Fifty-one patients (80%) had perfect/good scores. No major complications were encountered after CILESI, but one patient (1.54%) had a vasovagal reaction and another patient (1.54%) had a transient increase of pain after injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluoroscopy guided CILESI is a safe and an effective treatment for patients with cervical pain syndromes. The success rates show that a large percentage of the patients may obtain relief from radicular symptoms and avoid surgery for the follow-up period up to 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology and Pain Management Center, Sakarya University Medical School, Sakarya, Turkey. sgbeyaz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Serbülent Gökhan
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Beyaz
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids