Open AccessSafety of Epidural Steroid Injections for Lumbosacral Radicular Pain
Author(s) -
Steven P. Cohen,
Emileigh Greuber,
Kip Vought,
Dmitri Lissin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the clinical journal of pain/the clinical journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.109
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1536-5409
pISSN - 0749-8047
DOI - 10.1097/ajp.0000000000000963
Subject(s) - medicine , adverse effect , lumbosacral joint , radicular pain , anesthesia , epidural steroid injection , surgery , adverse event reporting system , low back pain , lumbar , pathology , alternative medicine
Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a commonly utilized treatment for lumbosacral radicular pain caused by intervertebral disc herniation or stenosis. Although effective in certain patient populations, ESIs have been associated with serious complications, including paralysis and death. In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety warning on the risk of injecting corticosteroids into the epidural space. The aims of this article were to review the neurological complications associated with ESIs and to compare the formulations, safety, and effectiveness of commercially available corticosteroids given by transforaminal, interlaminar, or caudal injection.