title: The short- and medium-term effectiveness of CT-guided selective cervical nerve root injection for pain and disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CT-guided cervical nerve root injection with corticosteroid and/or local anesthetic is a recognized technique in the evaluation and treatment of cervical radiculopathy. There are few prospective studies on the efficacy of the various techniques employed in cervical nerve root injection. We present our results from a 1-year prospective series using a CT-guided anterolateral transforaminal approach for cervical nerve root injection of bupivacaine and dexamethasone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain using a numeric rating scale was assessed at pre-injection, 15 min post-injection, 1 month, and 3 months. Disability was assessed using the Oswestry Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire at pre-injection, 1 month post-injection, and 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 50 patients were followed for 3 months. The mean reductions in pain were: 15 min (77 %), 1 month (39 %), and 3 months (33 %). The mean reductions in NDI were: 1 month (26 %) and 3 months (also 26 %). Results were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided selective cervical nerve root injection in the treatment of cervical radicular pain and related disability produces statistically significant reductions in pain and disability to at least 3 months post-procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospitals, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: Amidevi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Shouvik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huckerby
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Houghton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal / Q000379:methods; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002045:Bupivacaine