Comparison of efficacy of particulate and non-particulate steroids in patients with lumbosacral pain, non-operated patients with chronic radicular symptoms.

Objectives: In our study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate patients who were given particulate and non-particulate steroids for transforaminal epidural steroid injection due to non-operated chronic low back pain with radicular symptoms in terms of the change in pain and the change in functional capacity before the procedure.

Methods: This study was carried out by examining the files of 130 patients, underwent an interventional procedure. Records of patients pertaining to age, gender, location of pain, Visual Analog Scale, Patient Global Impression of Change, and Oswestry Disability Index Scale (ODI) before the interventional procedure and at the 1st and 3rd months after the procedure were recorded using the hospital automation system and patient follow-up forms.

Results: The functional capacity of the patients was evaluated, and in the comparison of the ODI score before the procedure, at the 1st month, and at the 3rd month, a statistically significant difference was found in the particulate steroid group compared to the non-particulate group at the 1st and 3rd months. When evaluated using the Generalized Linear Models, a statistically significant difference was found in both groups (p=0.039), and the ODI score was approximately 2,951 units lower in patients who were treated with particulate steroids than those who were treated with non-particulate steroids at each measurement time.

Conclusion: In our study, it has been demonstrated that particulate steroids are superior to non-particulate steroids in improving functional capacity in the early period, and non-particulate steroids are advantageous in the long term.