Transforaminal Injections Research Articles

The Synergistic Effect of Combined Transforaminal and Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection in Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniations.

BackgroundRecurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH) is one of the most common causes of chronic low back and leg pain. Although surgical treatment has high success rates in primary lumbar disc herniations, recurrence is not an uncommon clinic condition after the surgery. Considering the recurrent surgeries have lower success rates and higher risks, such as dural tear and nerve injury, alternative treatment modalities are needed for RLDH patients. Epidural steroid injections (ESI), particularly transforaminal steroid injection (TFESI) and caudal steroid injection (CESI), which are the alternative treatments to surgery, have not shown reasonable results in RLDH separately. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of combined TFESI and CESI (TFESI + CESI) treatment, which has been found successful in primary lumbar disc herniation (PLDH) and on pain control and quality of life in RLDH patients for the first time.Materials and methodsA total of 71 patients, who had ESI treatment as only TFESI or TFESI + CESI because of RLDH in our clinic between March 2017 and February 2020, were investigated retrospectively. The visual analog scale (VAS) leg, VAS back, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to assess leg pain, low back pain, and limitation of daily routine activities. Each assessment was done before the intervention and repeated at the third week, the third month, and the sixth month of injection, and the results were noted.ResultsOut of 71 patients, 38 were female and 33 male. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to the applied ESI methods as only TFESI (n = 32) and TFESI + CESI (n = 39). In the only TFESI group, the mean VAS leg score was 7.84, 4.63, 5.40, and 6.19 before, at the third week, the third month, and the sixth month of the injection, respectively. Also, in this group, the mean VAS back score was 8.06, 4.16, 4.88, and 5.97; the mean ODI score was 55.81, 34.31, 37.5, and 49.04 in the same respect. In the TFESI + CESI group, the mean VAS leg score was 8.20, 2.87, 3.64, 4.23; mean VAS back score 8.03, 3.05, 3.90, 4.08; mean ODI score 56.56, 28.05, 30.21, 33.64 before, at the third week, third month, and sixth month of the injection, respectively. The mean of the initial VAS leg, VAS back, and ODI scores was not found to be statistically significantly different between the two groups. The mean of all VAS leg, VAS back, and ODI scores was found to be lower in the TFESI + CESI group than the only TFESI group at each third-week, third-month, and sixth-month controls, and these differences were statistically significant. (p<0.0001 at each controls for VAS leg; p = 0.001 at third week, p = 0.002 at third month and p <0.0001 at sixth month for VAS back; p= 0.0003 at third week, p<0.0001 at third month, p<0.0001 at sixth month for ODI)ConclusionOur study demonstrates that TFESI + CESI treatment is an effective non-surgical treatment for RLDH. Considering the higher risks and lower success rates of recurrent surgeries, TFESI + CESI can be a potential treatment option for RLDH patients.

Retrospective study of effectiveness in transforminal nerve root block in lumbar disc disease

Introduction: Among chronic conditions, back problems are the most frequent cause of limitations of activity in persons less than 45 years of age. Sciatic neuralgia is a nerve root oedema because of the inflammatory, immunological, and mechanical factors. The lifetime prevalence of lumbar radiculopathy has been reported to be 5.3% in men and 3.7% in women. Steroid injections play an important role in the management of sciatic radiculopathy. Steroids act by reducing the oedema around the nerve roots and decreasing pain having the advantage of reduced dosage and targeted delivery around the nerve roots forming the basis of transforaminal nerve root block injections. In this study we want to study the effectiveness of transforaminal nerve root block in 30 patients post block and 3 months later. Aims and objectives: Aims and objectives of the study are as follows: 1. To study the effectiveness in relief of symptoms in transforaminal nerve root block in lumbar disc disease. Materials and Methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 30 patients having lumbar disc disease causing sciatic neuralgia were taken from May 2019 to December 2019 in MGM medical college and hospital Kamothe Navi Mumbai were retrospectively analysed in this study. Follow-up was conducted immediately after the administration of block, as well as 3 months post the administration of the root block. Preoperative VAS scoring and was done and same were repeated post block and at 3 months to observe the functional outcome of transforaminal root block. Results: The average follow-up was 6 months. At 2 to 3 weeks’ follow-up, 28 of 30 patients reported successful pain reduction. In 25 patients, this pain reduction was obtained immediately and in a further 3 patients within 4 days. In 2 patients, the nerve root block did not show a sufficient pain reduction. In total with 6months of follow up 26 patients with pain relief after the first injection had a permanent and substantial pain reduction, 16 did not require surgery, 6 had disc herniation and the remaining 3 had foraminal stenosis for which operative procedures were planned. Conclusion: From our study we can conclude that transforaminal Root block should be the first choice in treating and diagnosing patients with disc herniation. Root block is more effective in patients with disc herniation rather than canal stenosis. We also understand from our study that transforaminal Root block is more effective in early course of disease, within 6 weeks of onset of symptoms. So we conclude that larger discs should later be planned for an open or endoscopic decompression and mild and moderate disc can also be managed conservatively after a transforaminal root block. The patient’s clinical course remains the most important determinant for treatment decision in disc herniation.

Nusinersen injections in adults and children with spinal muscular atrophy: a single-center experience

Nusinersen is a drug approved in December 2016 for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). We want to share our initial experience with image-guided, non-image-guided, and port-delivered nusinersen injections in a large single-center SMA patient cohort, treating both pediatric and adult patients with focus on technical considerations and other patient concerns from a combined perspective of patient, neurologist, and radiologist. All nusinersen injections between February 2017 and September 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. We obtained age, sex, SMA type and technical details of the injections and postprocedure complications for each procedure. A total of 52 patients (24 women [46%]; 4 patients with SMA-1 [7.6%]; 30 patients with SMA-2 [57.8%]; 18 patients with SMA-3 [34.6%]; mean age, 25.5 years [7 months to 62 years]) with a total of 265 injections were included. Of the 265 injections, 206 (77.9%) were performed with local anesthetic, 25 (9.4%) with moderate sedation, and 23 (8.6%) under general anesthesia. We performed 65 CT-guided transforaminal injections in 13 patients, 106 fluoroscopy-guided lumbar punctures in 24 patients and 83 lumbar punctures in 16 patients using conventional technique. Only 6 of 265 injections (2.2%) ended up with a post-lumbar puncture headache (PLPH) requiring medical treatment. None required an epidural blood patch. Fourteen PLPH (5.2%) occurred and resolved at the same day without any treatment. After 6 of 265 injections (2.2%), patients reported soreness at the injection site which resolved spontaneously. Three elected to have an intrathecal reservoir placement (2 lumbar, 1 intraventricular) with a total of 11 injections. One patient with lumbar catheter developed infection after surgery with subsequent meningitis and treatment delay. After the resolution of meningitis, a new intraventricular reservoir was placed without any complication in the following injections. With the introduction of nusinersen treatment, neurologists and radiologists play an important role in treatment of SMA patients and therefore should be familiar with different techniques and complications of drug administration. Using good technique, it is possible to have very low complication rates even in this complex patient population, and various image-guided procedures can be a safe alternative to surgical approach, even in the most difficult cases.

New Simple Ultrasound-Guided Transforaminal Injection in Patients With Radiculopathy in the Lower Cervical Spine: A Computed Tomography-Controlled Study.

To evaluate the feasibility of a new simple ultrasound-guided transforaminal injection in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Ultrasound scans of the neck in a plastic model and in 5 unaffected participants were first performed to identify the intervertebral foramen. Then ultrasound-guided transforaminal injections were performed in 20 patients with radiculopathy in the lower cervical spine, and computed tomography was used to verify the accuracy. Complications, the visual analog score, and the neck disability index were assessed at 1 and 3 months after the injection. Computed tomography confirmed that the needle tip was correctly placed in the intervertebral foramen in 88.5% (23 of 26) of injections. No immediate or short-term complications were observed in all patients. The visual analog score and neck disability index at 1 and 3 months were significantly lower than those before the injection (both P < .0001). Ultrasound may be a feasible and accurate method to guide cervical transforaminal injection.

Differential rates of intravascular uptake and pain perception during lumbosacral epidural injection among adults using a 22-gauge needle versus 25-gauge needle: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundInadvertent intravascular injection has been suggested as the most probable mechanism behind serious neurological complications during transforaminal epidural steroid injections. Authors believe a smaller gauge needle may lead to less intravascular uptake and less pain. Theoretically, there is less chance for a smaller gauge needle to encounter a blood vessel during an injection compared to a larger gauge needle. Studies have also shown smaller gauge needle to cause less pain. The aim of the study was to quantify the difference between a 22-gauge needle and 25-gauge needle during lumbosacral transforaminal epidural steroid injection in regards to intravascular uptake and pain perception.MethodsThis was a prospective single blind randomized clinical trial performed at outpatient spine practice locations of two academic institutions. One hundred sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injections from February 2018 to June 2019 were recruited and randomized to each arm of the study – 84 patients were randomized to the 22-gauge needle arm and 78 patients to 25-gauge arm. Each transforaminal injection level was considered a separate incidence, hence total number of incidence was 249 (136 in 22-gauge arm and 113 in 25-gauge arm). The primary outcome measure was intravascular uptake during live fluoroscopy and/or blood aspiration. The secondary outcome measure was patient reported pain during the procedure on the numerical rating scale.ResultsFisher exact test was used to detect differences between 2 groups in regards to intravascular uptake and paired t-tests were used to detect differences in pain scores. The incidence of intravascular uptake for a 22-gauge needle was 5.9% (95% confidence interval: 1.9 to 9.8%) and for a 25-gauge needle, 7.1% (95% confidence interval: 2.4 to 11.8%) [p = 0.701]. Average numerical rating scale scores during the initial needle entry for 22-gauge and 25-gauge needle was 3.46 (95% confidence interval: 2.94 to 3.98) and 3.13 (95% confidence interval: 2.57 to 3.69) respectively [p = 0.375].ConclusionsThe study showed no statistically significant difference in intravascular uptake or pain perception between a 22-gauge needle and 25-gauge needle during lumbosacral transforaminal epidural steroid injections.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04350307. Registered 4/17/2020. (Retrospectively registered).

24. Cervical spine steroid injections for delay of surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Cervical spine steroid injections are increasingly being used for diagnosis and treatment of degenerative pathology. For cervical spondylotic myelopathy traditionally treated with surgery, there has been little investigation of the possible therapeutic or preventive effects of targeted injections. As injections may be targeted to the epidural space, the transforaminal region, or the zygapophyseal joints, differing injection modalities may also have variable therapeutic effects. PURPOSE To determine the potential for cervical spine steroid injections to delay surgical treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 39,590 patients with a new diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, without previous cervical spine surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES Timing of surgical treatment (cervical decompression, fusion, or arthroplasty, from anterior or posterior approaches). METHODS Administration of cervical epidural, transforaminal, or zygapophyseal steroid injections was determined based on Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Timing of surgical treatment (cervical decompression, fusion, or arthroplasty, from anterior or posterior approaches) was also determined based on CPT codes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association of steroid injection administration with surgical treatment at various time points after initial diagnosis (1, 3, 6 months, and 1, 2, 5 years). RESULTS A total of 39,590 patients with a new diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy were identified. A total of 6,405 patients (16.2%) underwent cervical epidural steroid injections, 1,426 (3.6%) underwent transforaminal steroid injections, and 647 (1.6%) underwent zygapophyseal injections. Mean time from initial diagnosis to surgery was 180.2 days (standard deviation=345.9 days). In multivariate analysis epidural injections were associated with decreased odds of surgery within 1 month of diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]=0.69, P CONCLUSIONS Epidural steroid injections do not prevent surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in the long run. There may be some short-term symptomatic benefits that lead to delayed surgical treatment, although the clinical benefits have yet to be demonstrated. No significant benefit is seen with transforaminal or zygapophyseal injections for treatment of cervical myelopathy. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

A Randomized Comparative Trial of Targeted Steroid Injection via Epidural Catheter vs Standard Transforaminal Epidural Injection for the Treatment of Unilateral Cervical Radicular Pain: Six-Month Results.

Compare the effectiveness of catheter-directed cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection (C-CIESI) with triamcinolone to cervical transforaminal steroid injection (CTFESI) with dexamethasone for the treatment of refractory unilateral radicular pain. Prospective, randomized, comparative trial. Primary outcome: proportion of participants with ≥50% numeric rating scale pain score reduction from baseline "dominant pain" (the greater of arm vs neck) at one month postinjection. Secondary outcomes: ≥30% Neck Disability Index (NDI-5) reduction and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) response indicating "much improved" or "very much improved." One hundred twenty participants (55.6% females, 52.3 ± 12.5 years of age, BMI 28.2 ± 6.5 kg/m2), were enrolled. The proportions of participants who experienced ≥50% pain reduction at one, three, and six months were 68.5% (95% CI = 54.9-79.5%), 59.3% (95% CI = 45.7-71.6%), and 60.8% (95% CI = 46.7-73.2%), respectively, in the C-CIESI group compared with 49.1% (95% CI = 36.4-62.0%), 46.4% (95% CI = 33.8-59.6%), and 51.9% (95% CI = 38.4-65.2%), respectively, in the CTFESI group. The between-group difference at one month was significant (P = 0.038). The proportions of participants who experienced a ≥30% NDI-5 score improvement were 64.0% (95% CI = 49.8-76.1%) and 54.9% (95% CI = 41.1-68.0%) in the C-CIESI and CTFESI groups (P = 0.352). Participants reported similar PGIC improvement in both groups: At six months, 53.2% (95% CI 38.9-67.1%) and 54.5% (95% CI = 39.7-68.7%) of the C-CIESI and CTFESI groups reported being "much improved" or "very much improved," respectively (P = 0.897). Both C-CIESI with triamcinolone and CTFESI with dexamethasone are effective in reducing pain and disability associated with refractory unilateral cervical radiculopathy in a substantial proportion of participants for at least six months.

Digital Subtraction Imaging for Transforaminal Injections.

Digital Subtraction Imaging for Transforaminal Injections.

Contrast Medium Volume Needed to Reach Anterior Epidural Space via the Kambin Triangle or Subpedicular Approach for Transforaminal Epidural Injection

Transforaminal (TF) lumbar injection is a commonly used minimally invasive intervention for management of chronic low back pain. TF injection can be performed using various approaches to inject the drug to the anterior epidural space (AES). To identify the volumes of contrast medium needed to reach the AES and other landmarks in the Kambin triangle (KB) and subpedicular (SP) approach of TF injection in patients with lumbosacral radicular pain. Randomized controlled trial. Pain clinic and operating room of a tertiary care hospital. Seventy-five eligible patients were randomized to receive TF epidural injection either by SP (SP group; n = 38) or the KB (KB group; n = 37) approach under fluoroscopic guidance. After confirming the appropriate needle position, contrast medium was injected at 0.5 mL increments up to 2 mL under intermittent fluoroscopy. Contrast medium volumes needed to reach specific landmarks, that is, AES, medial to superior pedicle, medial to inferior pedicle, medial aspect of both the superior, and neural spread, were recorded. Following this, 4 mL of the drug (0.5% lidocaine 1 mL + methylprednisolone 80 mg + 1 mL normal saline solution) was injected. Patients were evaluated for Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) scores after epidural injections at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months. Average volume of contrast medium needed to reach AES was 1.10 ± 0.46 mL in the KB approach and 1.10 ± 0.38 mL in the SP approach. Contrast medium volume needed to reach other landmarks showed comparable results in both groups. AES was seen in 27.02% (10/37) patients in the KB group and 23.6% (9/38) patients in the SP group with 0.5 mL of contrast medium. This increased to 56.76% (21/37) and 77.7% (28/38) with 1 mL of contrast medium (P = 0.03, chi-square test). No anterior spread was seen even after 2 mL of contrast medium in 4 patients in the KB group and 2 patients in the SP group. Neural spread was seen in 100% of patients in the KB group after 0.5 mL of contrast medium, but in 34 (89.4%) patients in the SP group (P = 0.03, chi-square test). We did not note any contralateral spread. Short-term effectiveness in pain relief in terms of VAS for back pain and functional improvement in terms of MODQ score over time showed similar results in both groups. Intravascular needle puncture and needle paresthesia was comparable in both groups. Small follow-up duration is one the limitations of this study. Future studies will be needed to assess any long-term differences in outcome between approach methods. Also, use of intermittent fluoroscopy might have limited detection of intravascular injections of the contrast medium in comparison to the continuous fluoroscopy. To conclude, our study revealed that average volume of contrast medium needed to reach AES and other landmarks were comparable with both approaches of TF injection. Transforaminal injection, subpedicular approach, Kambin triangle approach, contrast medium spread, anterior epidural spread.

Can we Rotate the Head Safely During Cervical Nerve Root Injection?

Objectives: Trans-foraminal epidural injections have been used successfully to aid in the management of cervicobrachialagia. The aim of this study was to assess the cross sectional area of the vertebral artery during transforaminal cervical nerve root injections (TFCNRI) when the head is typically rotated and to compare with the neutral position cross sectional area. We hypothesize that head rotation does not lead to a change of vertebral artery calibre at the neural foramen, thus this technique can be performed relatively safely during TFCNRI. Material and Methods: A pilot study involving a retrospective review of 16 computed tomography guided TFNRI was performed and cross sectional area of vertebral artery with head tilted and head in neutral position was performed. Results: There was no correlation between the degree of head rotation and change in the area of the ipsilateral or contralateral vertebral artery. Conclusion: We suggest that head can safely be rotated to varied degrees while performing TFCNRI.

Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Injection: A Narrative Review.

Transforaminal epidural steroid injection is often administered to patients with radiculopathy under fluoroscopic guidance, although it has disadvantages of radiation hazards and requirement of a special area to perform the block. To avoid these disadvantages, ultrasound-guided transforaminal injection (USTFI) has recently been described and is continually developed. This review article describes the indexed articles published on USTFI and ultrasound-guided selective nerve block (SNRB) to evaluate current evidence on best approach to perform the block. Through literature search, eight articles and one case report on USTFI and five articles on ultrasound-guided SNRB were found. Most of the studies have utilized parasagittal orientation of curvilinear probe to perform the block. Nevertheless, with the present literature, it is difficult to come to any conclusion. Further studies with larger sample size and description of dye spread patterns are recommended to come to a more definite conclusion.

CT fluoroscopy-guided transforaminal and intra-articular facet steroid injections for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy: injectate distribution patterns and association with clinical outcome.

To investigate injectate dispersal patterns and their association with therapeutic efficacy during a transforaminal (TFSI) or an intra-articular facet steroid injection (IFSI) to treat cervical radiculopathy. This retrospective study examined the post-intervention cervical spine CT of 56 patients randomized to receive one CT fluoroscopy-guided IFSI (29 patients; 10 (34.5%) males; mean age 45.0years; SD 8.8years; range 26-61years) or TFSI (27 patients; 13 (48.2%) males; mean age 51.1years; SD 11.2years; range 29-72years) (December 2010 to August 2013). The presence of contrast within the intra-articular facet, juxta-articular facet, retrodural, epidural, and foraminal and extraforaminal spaces during IFSI, and within the extraforaminal, foraminal, and epidural spaces during TFSI was assessed. Descriptive data are presented as frequencies. The association between injectate dispersal patterns and therapeutic efficacy, 4-week post-intervention, was assessed with ANCOVA models. During IFSI, the injectate predominantly spread to the retrodural (62%; 18/29) or juxta-articular (21%; 6/29) space. During TFSI, the injectate predominantly spread to the extraforaminal/foraminal spaces (41%; 11/27) or to the extraforaminal/foraminal/epidural spaces (33%; 9/27). Injectate presence in the juxta-articular (p = .007) or extraforaminal (p < .001) space was a predictor of therapeutic efficacy but not in the foraminal (p = .54), epidural (p = .89), or retrodural (p = .75) space. TFSI and IFSI led to preferential extraforaminal and retrodural injectate spread, respectively. Targeting the extraforaminal or juxta-articular facet space improved the clinical efficacy of steroid injections when treating cervical radiculopathy. • During intra-articular facet injection, the injectate spreads from the facet joint to the retrodural space and rarely reaches the epidural and/or foraminal spaces. • Epidural spread of the injectate during an anterolateral transforaminal steroid injection is the least effective for pain relief in patients with cervical radiculopathy. • Injection techniques targeting the extraforaminal or juxta-articular facet space are safer than transforaminal injections and effectively relieve pain in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Transforaminal intrathecal delivery of nusinersen for older children and adults with spinal muscular atrophy and complex spinal anatomy: an analysis of 200 consecutive injections

BackgroundNusinersen is the only approved treatment for all spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) subtypes and is delivered intrathecally. Distorted spinal anatomy and instrumentation preclude standard approaches for intrathecal access, necessitating alternative...

Computed-tomography-guided transforaminal intrathecal nusinersen injection in adults with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 and severe spinal deformity. Feasibility, safety and radiation exposure considerations.

The purpose was to investigate our centre's experience on computed-tomography-guided (CT-guided), transforaminal, intrathecal administration of nusinersen in adult subjects with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2 and severe spinal deformity. This is a retrospective, single-centre study investigating the feasibility and safety of CT-guided, transforaminal, lumbar puncture for the intrathecal administration of nusinersen (Spinranza®; Biogen; Cambridge, MA, USA) in a cohort of adult subjects with SMA type 2, severe neuromuscular scoliosis and previous spinal surgery. Between January 2019 and October 2019, five male, adult, SMA type 2 subjects were eligible to be treated in our centre with nusinersen. The mean age of the patients was 31±9years (range 19-43years). The study's outcome measures were technical success, adverse events and radiation exposure. In total, four patients completed the four loading doses, whilst the fifth patient received only one loading dose; two patients also received their first maintenance doses. Overall, 20 consecutive transforaminal, intrathecal treatments were analysed. Technical success was 100% (20/20 intrathecal infusions). No adverse events were documented following the procedures. Mean dose-length product (DLP) value per injection was 665.4±715.5mGy*cm. Estimated mean effective dose per injection was 12.7±12.9mSv. Subgroup analysis between the chronologically first 10 versus subsequent 10 procedures demonstrated a clear trend towards less radiation exposure in the latter, although this difference did not reach statistical significance (DLP: 984.7±903.3 vs. 436.7±321.5mGy*cm, P=0.165; respectively). In this retrospective series, CT-guided transforaminal access for intrathecal injection of nusinersen was proven feasible and safe. A decrease in radiation dose over time was noted. Protocols to minimize radiation exposure are essential.

An Updated Analysis of Utilization of Epidural Procedures in Managing Chronic Pain in the Medicare Population from 2000 to 2018

With increasing costs of health care in the United States, attention is focused on expensive conditions. Musculoskeletal disorders with low back and neck pain account for the third highest amount of various disease categories. Minimally invasive interventional techniques for managing spinal pain, including epidural injections, have been considered to be growing rapidly. However, recent analyses of utilization of interventional techniques from 2000 to 2018 has shown a decline of 2.6% and a decline of 21% from 2009 to 2018 for epidural and adhesiolysis procedures. The objectives of this analysis of epidural procedures from 2000 to 2018 are to provide an update on utilization of epidural injections in managing chronic pain in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population, with a comparative analysis of 2000 to 2009 and 2009 to 2018. Utilization patterns and variables of epidural injections in managing chronic spinal pain from 2000 to 2009 and from 2009 to 2018 in the FFS Medicare population in the United States. This analysis was performed by utilizing master data from CMS, physician/supplier procedure summary from 2000 to 2018. The analysis was performed by the assessment of utilization patterns using guidance from Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). Overall, epidural procedures declined at a rate of 20.7% per 100,000 Medicare enrollees in FFS Medicare in the United States from 2009 to 2018, with an annual decline of 2.5%. However, from 2000 to 2009, there was an increase of 89.2%, with an annual increase of 7.3%. This analysis showed a decline in all categories, with an annual decrease of 4.7% for lumbar interlaminar and caudal epidural injections, 4.7% decline for cervical/thoracic transforaminal epidural injections, 1.1% decline for lumbar/sacral transforaminal epidural injections, and finally 0.4% decline for cervical/thoracic interlaminar epidural injections. Overall declines from 2009 to 2018 were highest for cervical and thoracic transforaminal injections with 35.1%, followed by lumbar interlaminar and caudal epidural injections of 34.9%, followed by 9.4% for lumbar/sacral transforaminal epidurals, and 3.5% for cervical and thoracic interlaminar epidurals. This analysis was limited by noninclusion of Medicare Advantage plans, which constitutes almost 30% of the Medicare population. In addition, utilization data for individual states continues to be sparse and may not be accurate or representative of the population. The declining utilization of epidural injections in all categories with an annual of 2.5% and overall decrease of 20.7% from 2009 to 2018 compared with annual increases of 7.3% and overall increase of 89.2% from 2000 to 2009 shows a slow decline of utilization of all epidural injections. Chronic spinal pain, interlaminar epidural injections, caudal epidural injections, transforaminal epidural injections, utilization patterns.

Lumbar Radicular Pain Response to First Injection with Non-particulate Steroid.

IntroductionRecent studies on the use of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) to treat lumbar radicular pain have highlighted controversies pertaining to the choice of corticosteroid agent utilized in lumbosacral TFESI, in terms of both safety and efficacy. The primary objective was to characterize the radicular pain response after a first transforaminal injection with dexamethasone. The secondary objective was to document the response of those who failed to respond to a dexamethasone injection when particulate steroid was utilized for a second injection.MethodsIt was a retrospective study of 94 consecutive patients undergoing transforaminal injection for lumbosacral radicular pain. At two-week follow-up, patients rated their pain response on a clinically oriented five-point survey. First injection non-responders were given a second injection with particulate steroid and again completed the survey.ResultsApproximately one-third (N = 31/94) of patients received no meaningful relief from a single injection with dexamethasone. No patients achieved lasting and complete pain relief after a single injection. Of initial non-particulate steroid non-responders, approximately two-thirds (N = 19/28) demonstrated a notable or complete response to a second injection with particulate steroid.ConclusionsWe are now able to better inform patients with regard to their anticipated pain response to an initial dexamethasone injection. Only one-third of patients realized more significant and lasting relief after a single injection. Of those who did not demonstrate a more meaningful response, a second injection with particulate steroid resulted in more pronounced pain relief in two-thirds of patients.

Fluoroscopically guided lumbar spine interlaminar and transforaminal epidural injections: inadvertent intravascular injection.

Inadvertent intravascular injection is a rare but catastrophic complication of lumbar epidural injections. To determine risk factors for inadvertent intravascular injection in fluoroscopically guided lumbar spine epidural injections. A total of 212 patients who presented for lumbar interlaminar or transforaminal injection were prospectively enrolled. Patient demographics, history of surgery, injection side, site and approach, and volume of contrast injected were recorded. There were 89 (42%) interlaminar and 123 (58%) transforaminal injections. For 36 (17%) patients, there had been surgery at the injected or adjacent lumbar level. There were 25 (12%) inadvertent intravascular injections, with an incidence of 2/93 (2%) for interlaminar and 23/119 (19%) for transforaminal injections. The patients with inadvertent intravascular injection were older (P = 0.017) and had prior surgery at or adjacent to the level of injection (P < 0.0001). Transforaminal approach had a higher intravasation rate than interlaminar injections, both when comparing the entire cohort (P = 0.0001) and only patients without prior surgery (P = 0.01). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, transforaminal injections (odds ratio [OR] 9.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.14-44.6, P = 0.003) and prior surgery at or adjacent to the level of injection (OR 5.71, 95% CI 2.15-15.15, P < 0.001) were independently associated with increased risk of inadvertent intravascular injections. Inadvertent intravascular injection occurred in 12% of our lumbar injection cohort and is more common with transforaminal injections, in older patients, and with prior lumbar surgery at or adjacent to the level of injection.

Update of a Study of Not Ceasing Anticoagulants for Patients Undergoing Injection Procedures for Spinal Pain

To determine prevalence rates of hemorrhagic complications in patients who either ceased or continued anticoagulants during interventional pain procedures. A total of 1,936 consecutive patients were prospectively monitored during a total of 12,723 injection procedures. The prevalence of hemorrhagic complications was tallied for a variety of procedures performed on patients who ceased or continued various anticoagulants. No hemorrhagic complications occurred in any patient who continued anticoagulants. Sufficiently large sample sizes were obtained to conclude that, in patients who continued warfarin or clopidrogel during lumbar transforaminal injections and for lumbar facet procedures, the zero prevalence of complications had 95% confidence intervals of 0% to 0.3%. This prevalence was significantly lower than the risk of medical complications in patients who ceased warfarin. Lumbar transforaminal injections and lumbar facet injections have a very low rate of hemorrhagic complications when patients continue to take anticoagulants.

Transforaminal Block: The “Keyhole” Unlocked

Among the techniques of epidural steroid injections, transforaminal injection allows for a concentrated application of steroids around the inflamed neural structure. The transforaminal injection technique can be performed via the subpedicular or Kambin's approach. The purpose of this article is to identify key features of anatomy of the lumbar neural foramen and to describe techniques of transforaminal epidural injection.

Three-Dimensional Imaging Angiography (3DIA) vs Fluoroscopy To Reveal Intravascular Injection During Lumbar Transforaminal Steroid Injection: A Retrospective Study

Demonstrate of accidental intravascular injection during lumbar transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injection (TAESI) performed with three-dimensional imaging angiography (3DIA) and fluoroscopy.We assessed 20 (9 males and 11 females) patients (with a total of 40 levels) whose images were received with simultaneously 3DIA and fluoroscopy-guided TAESI between January 2016 and September 2016 as retrospective. Injections were carried out in the lumbar fourth intervertebral space bilaterally and performed in the same way all of the cases.The mean age and body mass index of the patients were 47.9±2.72 years and 26.95±1.21, respectively. There were 10 patients with disc herniation, seven patients with spinal stenosis, and three patients with failed back surgery syndrome. In 3D imaging, vascular escape was detected in the 7 levels (17.5%) which were thought to be no escape in the fluoroscopy imaging.In chronic lumbar radiculopathy patients, intravascular escapes may occur during the fluoroscopic TAESI procedure. To avoid intravascular injections during TAESI procedure, it may be appropriate to use different imaging methods that can give more detailed results such as 3D angiography.