title: Facet joint injection versus epidural steroid injection for lumbar spinal stenosis: intra-individual study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of facet joint injection (FJI) for patients with lumbar central canal stenosis (LCS) in comparison with epidural steroid injection (ESI) in the same individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifty-two patients who underwent both FJI and ESI for LCS between January 2014 and December 2014 were considered for enrolment in the study. A radiologist retrospectively conducted a chart review and recorded which injection was chosen as the third injection after sequential injections of FJI and ESI, and why clinicians chose the particular injection method. The response was measured via the use of a five-point satisfaction scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 252 patients, only 73 patients were included in the study (the remaining patients did not fulfil the inclusion criteria). Out of 73 patients (mean age, 69.7 years; range, 49∼87 years), 50 patients had received a third injection, 33 patients (66%) underwent FJIs as a third injection. Out of 19 patients who had experienced an ineffective first ESI, 13 (68.4%) patients reported the second FJI as effective. Out of six patients for whom the first FJI had been ineffective, three (50%) patients reported the second ESI as effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FJIs can be administered as an alternative to ESIs in cases of LCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea. Electronic address: joonwoo2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids