CT Guided Cervical Transforaminal Steroid Injection: 2 Months Follow-up.
- Author:
Hoondo KIM
1
;
Sang Ho LEE
;
Myung Ho KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: CT (Computed Tomography); herniated cervical disc; spinal stenosis; transforaminal steroid injection
- MeSH: Arm; Carotid Arteries; Constriction, Pathologic; Follow-Up Studies*; Hematoma; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Jugular Veins; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Needles; Radiculopathy; Shoulder; Spinal Stenosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vertebral Artery
- From:The Korean Journal of Pain 2006;19(1):51-55
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: A cervical transforaminal steroid injection is an effective therapeutic modality for radiculopathy of a herniated cervical disc or a cervical foraminal stenosis. However, there is some debate regarding the safety of the transforaminal approach under C-arm guidance compared with the posterior interlaminar approach. We report a new technique for cervical transforaminal steroid injection guided by MDCT. METHODS: Patients presenting with radiating pain on their shoulder or arm were diagnosed using CT or MRI of a cervical herniated disc or a foraminal stenosis. Each patient whose symptoms were compatible with the image scan was enrolled in this study. They received a cervical transforaminal steroid injection under CT guidance, and the effectiveness and complications of this technique were evaluated over a 2-month period. RESULTS: According to the CT scan, none of the participants had an internal jugular vein or a carotid artery invasion during the procedure. No vertebral artery injection was noted, and no patient developed a hematoma after the injection. The VAS score had improved significantly by 2, 4 and 8 weeks after the injection. CONCLUSIONS: While a conventional C-arm guided cervical transforaminal steroid injection does not appear to differentiate between the major vessels and structures in images, a CT guided approach is a more useful and safer technique for the precise placement of a needle.
