The Use of Contrast in Caudal Epidural Injections under Image Intensifier Guidance: Is It Necessary?.
10.4055/cios.2017.9.2.190
- Author:
Kamil NAIDOO
1
;
Sulaiman ALAZZAWI
;
Alexander MONTGOMERY
Author Information
1. Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom. k.naidoo@me.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Caudal anesthesia;
Epidural injections;
Spine;
Fluoroscopy
- MeSH:
Anesthesia, Caudal;
Female;
Fluoroscopy;
Humans;
Injections, Epidural*;
Learning Curve;
Male;
Needles;
Spine
- From:Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery
2017;9(2):190-192
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: We investigated the value of using contrast as an additional aid to confirm the accuracy of needle placement for caudal epidural injections under intraoperative image intensifier guidance. METHODS: A total of 252 consecutive patients were included in this study. Their mean age was 46.7 years (range, 32 to 76 years). There were 133 males (53%) and 119 females (47%) over a 12-month period. RESULTS: Of the 252 consecutive procedures, the contrast enhanced image intensifier confirmed accurate needle placement on first attempt in 252 cases (100%). Needle resiting following the infiltration of contrast was required in 0 case. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study demonstrate that a surgeon beyond the learning curve can accurately place caudal epidural injections using image intensification only, without the use of contrast.
