Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
03:14
Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia
Published on: January 31, 2025
[Lumbar epidural steroid injection: Is the success rate predictable?]
Alihan Derincek1, Evren Eker, Ayşin Pourbagher
1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Başkent University, Adana Medical Center, Ankara, Turkey. aderincek@hotmail.com
Summary
Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are more effective for lumbar herniated discs with significant canal compromise and shorter symptom duration. Higher canal compromise correlated with better pain relief after ESI.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Pain Management
- Radiology
Background:
- Lumbar herniated intervertebral discs (HIVD) commonly cause leg pain.
- Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a frequent treatment for symptomatic HIVD.
- The relationship between the degree of spinal canal compromise and ESI success is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between the percentage of spinal canal compromise and the success rate of ESI in patients with symptomatic HIVD.
- To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of ESI for lumbar radiculopathy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 39 patients with symptomatic HIVD treated with ESI.
- Measurement of percent canal compromise using axial MRI scans.
- Assessment of pain reduction using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pre- and post-injection.
Main Results:
- A mean canal compromise of 36.1% was observed.
- Successful pain relief (decreased VAS) was achieved post-ESI (p<0.0001).
- Shorter symptom duration (<3 months) and higher percent canal compromise were significantly associated with improved post-injection VAS scores (p=0.021 and p=0.042, respectively).
Conclusions:
- ESI demonstrates higher efficacy in patients experiencing shorter symptom duration.
- Greater degrees of spinal canal compromise correlate with enhanced benefits from ESI.
- These findings suggest that canal compromise percentage is a valuable predictor of ESI success in HIVD.
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