Safety of cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections

In 2014 the FDA issued a drug safety warning that steroids in the epidural space may result in rare but serious neurological adverse events. The FDA identified 131 cases of neurological adverse events and most complications were related to cervical transforaminal epidural injections (TFESIs). These complications occurred before the standard use of non-particulate steroids. Many still consider cervical TFSEIs to be unsafe.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of cervical TFESIs with non-particulate steroids.

A review was done of all cervical TFESIs from 2004 to 2021 at an academic institution when non-particulate steroids became more commonly used by reviewing CPT code 64479 linked to the performing physician. All treating physicians and department directors were queried about catastrophic complications (stroke, spinal cord injury, death or other). A secondary analysis was done on 200 consecutive cervical TFESIs looking at immediate and delayed side-effects documented by the nurse in recovery, day-after phone calls and clinic follow-up notes.

From 2004 to 2021 the CPT code 64479 was used 6967 times, with 6241 cervical TFESIs and 726 thoracic TFESIs. No catastrophic complications occurred. In the subset analysis of 200 consecutive cervical TFESIs, 7 patients (3.5 %, 95 % CI 1.0-6.0) had a transient increase in pain, 18 (9 %, 95 % CI 5.0-13.0) had no change in pain and 171 (85.5 %, 95 % CI 80.6-90.4) had a decrease in pain. The average pain score among all participants dropped 3.7 (95 % 3.0-4.4) points. A 2-point drop was seen in 75.5 % (95 % CI 69.5-81.5) and a 3-point drop was seen in 62.5 % (95 % CI 59.1-65.9). Five of the seven patients with transient increased pain had an increase of $$ 3 points on numerical rating scale. There was one of each of the following reported: insomnia, glucose >500, transient thumb numbness with pain, and hypertension. Two cases of headaches were reported.

This study supports the safety of cervical TFESIs with non-particulate steroids as recommended by consensus opinions from medical societies.