Epidural Steroid Injection For Post Laminectomy Syndrome: Transforaminal Versus Caudal

Abstract

Objective: To compare transforaminal epidural injection with caudal injection for patients with post laminectomy syndrome. Design: Prospective, cross-over, descriptive study Setting: Outpatient surgery center Patients: The patients with postlaminectomy syndrome were included in the study. Interventions: All patients initially received caudal epidural steroid injection after evaluation. Two weeks later, if patient had significant pain relief from caudal injection, then caudal epidural steroid injection was repeated. If patient had no significant pain relief from caudal injection, then transforaminal epidural injection was performed. A quality of pain relief of 50% or greater was considered as significant. Results: There were total 12 patients in the study. Three patients had significant pain relief from caudal epidural injection. Eight patients had 50% pain relief from transforaminal epidural injection. The difference in pain relief effect between transforaminal epidural injection and caudal epidural injection was statistically significant. Conclusion: Transforaminal epidural steroid injections had better pain relief for post laminectomy syndrome patients than caudal epidural injection.