Comparison of the eficacy of epidural steroid injection applied in cervical and lumbar regions.

Objectives: Epidural injections have been used for many years in the treatment of chronic pain in patients with chronic backleg pain and chronic neck-arm pain. We aimed to compare the efficacy of lumbar and cervical epidural steroid injections on pain palliation, duration of pain relief and patient satisfaction.

Methods: This is a Retrospective, observational single-center study. A total of 159 patients (96 females, 63 males) who were performed epidural steroid injections in cervical and lumbar regions were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as lumbar epidural steroid injection 'Group 1' and cervical epidural steroid injection 'Group 2'. We retrospectively evaluated the patients for numerical rating scale (NRS) prior and after the injection, the duration of the pain relief, whether any complication occured related to injection and patient satisfaction.

Results: 130 patients in Group 1 and 29 patients in Group 2 were evaluated. Median NRS before the procedure: 8 in Group 1, 7 in Group 2 and median NRS after the procedure: 3 in Group 1, 4 in group 2. Patient satisfaction with the procedure 56.15% in Group 1 and 48.62% in Group 2. Mean duration of pain relief 7.23 months in Group 1 and 8.17 months in Group 2. There were no statistically significant difference in the evaluated parameters between the two groups.

Conclusion: It was observed that the pain relief, duration of pain relief and patient satisfaction were similar for cervical and lumbar epidural steroid injections.