Epidural cortisone injections in the young athletic adult

The lumbar epidural cortisone injection can be a useful adjunct in the conservative management of the athlete with a symptomatic lumbar disc and associated irritated neural elements. Thirty-two young athletes (ages ranging from 17 to 30 years) with a clinical diagnosis of a symptomatic lumbar disc and sciatica were treated with lumbar epidural cortisone injections. All had had disabling symptoms persisting for a minimum of 2 weeks, with an average duration of 3.6 months. Dramatic abatement of symptoms and a significantly hastened return to competiton (a positive response) was seen in 14 (44%) of the 32 athletes following injection. Although the results were encouraging, we found the success rate of this study group to be less dramatic than larger reported series in the general population.