[Procedural pain assessment after spinal injections of corticosteroid]

Spinal injections of corticosteroid are commonly performed by rheumatologists in their daily practice but little is known about the frequency, the intensity and the management of procedural pain observed in these osteoarticular injections in daily practice.

To evaluate the prevalence and intensity of pain caused by spinal injections.

In this observational prospective study, data were collected over 6 months, for up to 44 procedures (corticosteroid spinal injection). Evaluation of the pain was evaluated immediately before and after the injection using Huskisson's visual analogue scale (VAS). Statistical analysis was carried out in order to compare patients who had suffered from pain whilst undergoing the procedure to those who had not.

Data were analyzed for 17 patients (12 female, mean age 53.6 ± 10.5 years). Over 50% of patients experienced procedural pain. Significant predictive factors of genesis of the procedural pain were the young age (p=0.022) and the intensity of the initial pain (p < 0.001), while the existence of a co morbidity is rather a protective factor (p = 0.006). Others factors such us sex, origin, level of studies, socioeconomic conditions, didn't seem to have of effect on the procedural pain.

Most patients undergoing spinal injections suffer from procedural pain. Specific research and guidelines for the management of procedural pain related to rheumatologic care should be established to improve the quality of care provided by physicians.