Epidural Steroid Injection-Induced Pancreatitis: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Gastroenterology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine frequently causes spinal canal and neuroforaminal stenosis, leading to severe pain.
• Conservative treatments are typically recommended first, particularly for elderly patients.
• Epidural corticosteroid injections offer temporary pain relief for spinal stenosis but are associated with rare complications.

Observation:

• A 73-year-old woman experienced severe back pain one week post-lumbar epidural steroid injection.
• She developed abdominal pain and nausea, prompting further investigation.
• Imaging and laboratory tests confirmed pancreatic inflammation.

Findings:

• The patient's symptoms were attributed to steroid-induced pancreatitis.
• Lumbar epidural steroid injection was identified as a potential risk factor for this complication.
• This adverse event occurred in the context of severe multi-level degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.

Implications:

• Physicians should consider steroid-induced pancreatitis as a potential diagnosis in patients presenting with abdominal symptoms after epidural corticosteroid injections.
• This case underscores the importance of monitoring for rare but serious adverse events following common pain management procedures.
• Further research may be warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and incidence of steroid-induced pancreatitis after epidural injections.