A randomized, double-blind, active control trial of fluoroscopic cervical interlaminar epidural injections in chronic pain of cervical disc herniation: results of a 2-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
A recent evaluation of the state of U.S. health from 1990 to 2010 placed neck pain as the fourth condition leading to disability, with low back pain being the number one. Multiple treatment modalities have been described in managing neck and upper extremity pain secondary to cervical disc herniation after the failure of conservative management. The treatment modalities for chronic persistent pain of cervical disc herniation include surgery and epidural injections. The growth of interventional techniques in managing chronic spinal pain in recent years has been enormous. Evidence for the efficacy of cervical interlaminar epidural injections, however, continues to be debated, despite positive evidence derived from controlled randomized trials and systematic reviews.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, active control trial.


METHODS
A private, specialty referral, interventional pain management practice in the United States.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of epidural injections in managing chronic pain related to cervical disc herniation.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups of 60, with a total of 120 patients. Group I patients received cervical epidural injections with lidocaine 0.5% preservative-free, 5 mL, whereas Group II patients received 0.5% preservative-free lidocaine mixed with 1 mL or 6 mg of non-particulate betamethasone.


METHODS
Multiple outcome measures included the numeric rating pain scale (NRS), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), employment status, opioid intake with assessment at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post treatment. Significant improvement was described as pain relief with a 50% improvement in functional status.


RESULTS
This evaluation showed significant improvement as 50% pain relief and improvement in functional status in 72% of the patients at 2 year follow-up in the local anesthetic group and 68% in those patients receiving local anesthetic and steroid. In the successful group of participants however, significant improvement was seen in 77% in Group I and 80% in Group II. Overall, the average number of procedures was 5 to 6 in both groups. The average total relief for 2 years was 75.9 ± 29.9 weeks in Group I and 72.7 ± 31.1 in Group II, the successful group of participants. Taking into consideration all of the participants, the average total relief for 2 years was 69.6 ± 35 weeks in Group I and 62.1 ± 38.4 weeks in Group II.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study are limited by the lack of a placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Cervical epidural injections with local anesthetic with or without steroids. [corrected].
Pain Management Center of Paducah, Paducah, KY; and University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; and The McFarland Clinic, Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames, Iowa.
Laxmaiah
L
Manchikanti
Kimberly A
KA
Cash
Vidyasagar
V
Pampati
Bradley W
BW
Wargo
Yogesh
Y
Malla
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000379:methods; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013256:Steroids