Cervical Ultrasound Utilization in Selective Cervical Nerve Root Injection for the Treatment of Cervical Radicular Pain: a Review

Abstract

This paper aims to review the available literature addressing the safety, accuracy, and efficacy of ultrasound-guided injections for cervical radicular pain. Ultrasound-guided injections remain a “partially blind technique” due to the inability to visualize relevant structures and the distribution of injectate. There remains a need for adequately powered studies evaluating the safety, accuracy, and effectiveness of ultrasound-guided steroid injections in the cervical spine. Fluoroscopy remains the best evidence-based image-guidance modality for injections into the cervical epidural space to treat cervical radicular pain. If ultrasound guidance is planned for treatment of cervical radicular pain, the authors recommend concomitant use of fluoroscopy guidance. Given the risk of inaccurate needle placement, physicians should retain fluoroscopic images prior to contrast injection to document the proper vertebral segment and final needle tip position. As epidural flow cannot be fully visualized with ultrasound, it is recommended to use fluoroscopy and, if needed, digital subtraction imaging to confirm the absence of intravascular injection. At a minimum, images should be saved post-contrast injection to document epidural flow.