Cervical Erector Spinae Plane Block vs. Epidural Steroid Injection for Cervical Radicular Pain: A Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Anesthesiology
• Interventional Pain Medicine

Background:

• Cervical radicular pain is a prevalent chronic pain condition.
• Conservative treatments are standard, but some patients require minimally invasive interventions.
• Interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (ICESI) is a common option, while cervical erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is an emerging alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of ICESIs and cervical ESPBs in managing refractory cervical radicular pain.
• To evaluate pain intensity and functional status improvements in patients undergoing these procedures.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted with 30 patients.
• Patients were randomized into either the ICESI group or the ESPB group.
• Outcomes were assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11) at baseline, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks post-procedure.

Main Results:

• Both ICESI and ESPB significantly reduced pain and improved function (P < 0.05).
• No significant differences in pain scores (NRS-11) were observed between groups at 2 and 8 weeks.
• The ICESI group showed significantly greater improvement in functional status (NDI scores) at both follow-up intervals (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Cervical ESPBs demonstrate comparable efficacy to ICESIs in pain reduction for cervical radicular pain.
• ESPB may be a viable alternative to ICESI, potentially with a better safety profile.
• Further research with longer follow-up and larger sample sizes is warranted.