Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2026

Laminotomy for Lumbar Dorsal Root Ganglion Access and Injection in Swine
Published on: October 10, 2017
Epidural steroid injections for low back pain and lumbosacral radiculopathy
1Department of Anesthesia, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611 U.S.A.
Abstract:
Non-surgical treatments of back pain may have prolonged and lasting benefit. Epidural steroid injections is one of the non-operative managements of back pain. These injections are recommended in patients with signs and symptoms of nerve root irritation. Relief of pain is attributed to the anti-inflammatory effect of the steroid. Patients with acute radiculopathy have better response compared to patients with chronic symptoms. Improvement may not be noted until 6 days after the injection. The depression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis lasts 3 weeks. While complications have been reported, these are rare. Intrathecal steroid injection is not advisable since polyethylene glycol, the vehicle used in depot steroid preparations, may cause arachnoiditis.
Related Concept Videos
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction

