Autologous blood injected into the epidural space of 10 patients with a postlumbar puncture headache resulted in immediate and lasting cure except for one patient, due to technical failure to obtain proper identification for epidural injection. No serious complications were noticed in these cases except one who developed severe lower back pain radiating to the right leg immediately after epidural injection. A headache is the commonest untoward complication of spinal puncture. The clinical applications of many of the methods of treating post lumbar puncture headaches have been most unsatisfactory. This method of treating postspinal headaches, which has only been introduced recently, namely epidural blood patch, has resulted in immediate, satisfactory and permanent relief. It is to be noted that possible additional complications may be produced. therefore an absolute indication must be evaluated to avoid additional complications before the blood patch method is used. The amount of blood and the site of injection must be considered as an important factor to prevent post blood patch complications. The possible complications from autologous blood injections into th eepidural space are as follows: 1. Nerve root compression from epidural hematoma injected for blood patch. 2. Development of epidural hematoma by injuring venous plexus. Particularly dangerous secondary problems come from patients with purpura, scurvy, hemophilia, leukemia and anticoagulant therapy. 3. Tendency of epidural abscess caused by the blood being a good media for bacterial growth. 4. Localized back pain and lumbago. 5. Persistent headache aggravated by inadvertent subdural puncture. 6. Possibility of adhesive arachnoiditis.
Adhesives ; Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Back Pain ; Blood Patch, Epidural ; Epidural Abscess ; Epidural Space ; Headache* ; Hematoma ; Hemophilia A ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Leg ; Leukemia ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Punctures* ; Purpura ; Radiculopathy ; Scurvy ; Spinal Puncture

The approach we suggest was developed for cases in which the fourth and fifth lumbar and first sacral spinal nerves were affected in lumbar degenerative disc disease. Retrodiscal transforaminal epidural injection is known to be very effective for lumbar radiculopathy because of excellent access to primary pathology; however, access below L5 is often restricted by the anatomic characteristics of the L5–S1. In the translateral recess approach (TLR), proper final needle placement (i.e., in the axillary portion between the exiting and traversing nerve roots) can be achieved by setting the direction of the needle laterally and superiorly from the distal tip of the infra-adjacent spinous process toward the medial wall of the pedicle and neural foramen of the given level without neural injury. This approach is possible because of the wide interlaminar space in the L5–S1. Preganglionic epidural injection through TLR is an effective and safe spinal intervention for lumbosacral radiculopathy.
Injections, Epidural ; Needles ; Pathology ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Nerves

BACKGROUND: Lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injection (TFEI) is an effective treatment for spinal disease. However, TFEI may have several types of complications, some of which can be attributed to intravascular injection. We reviewed studies to compare the intravascular injection rate among different needle types. METHODS: We searched the literature for articles on the intravascular injection rate among different needle types used in TFEI. The search was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science. RESULTS: A total of six studies comprising 2359 patients were identified. Compared with the Quincke needle, the Whitacre needle reduced the intravascular injection rate (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = [0.44–0.73], P < 0.001). However, compared with the Quincke needle, the Chiba needle did not reduce the intravascular injection rate (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = [0.44–1.45], P = 0.46). In one study, the intravascular injection rate using a blunt-tip needle was lower than that using a sharp needle. In another study, the Whitacre and the blunt-tip needle have similar intravascular injection rates, while, the catheter-extension needle showed a reduced intravascular injection rate. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that the Whitacre needle reduced the intravascular injection rate as compared with the Quincke needle, but failed to establish that the Chiba needle can decrease the intravascular injection rate in TFEI. Moreover, the blunt-tip needle can reduce the intravascular injection rate compared with the Quincke needle, and the catheter-extension needle can reduce the intravascular injection rate compared with the Whitacre and the blunt-tip needle.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Needles ; Spinal Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term effect and safety of an epidural steroid injection in spinal stenosis patients, with or without local anesthetics. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with spinal stenosis were included and randomly divided into two groups. Translaminar epidural and selective nerve root spinal injection procedures were performed using steroids mixed with local anesthetics or normal saline. The effects of spinal injection procedures were measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional rate index (FRI). These measurements were performed before injection, at 1 month after injection and at 3 months after injection. The occurrence of side effects was investigated each time. RESULTS: The VAS and FRI scores were significantly reduced in both the local anesthetics group and normal saline group at 1 and 3 months after the injection. However, there was no significant difference in VAS and FRI score reduction between the two groups each time. Side effects are not noted in both groups. CONCLUSION: The spinal injection procedures using steroids mixed either with local anesthetics or normal saline have an effect in reducing pain and improving functional activities. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to side effects and the long-term effects of pain and function.
Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Local* ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Injections, Spinal ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Steroids

No abstract available.
Endoscopy ; Epidural Space ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Stenosis ; Injections, Epidural ; Pain Management ; Pain ; Injections ; Inflammation ; Humans

Spinal epidural hematoma is a rare complication associated with pain control procedures such as facet block, acupuncture, epidural injection, etc. Although it is an uncommon cause of acute myelopathy, and it may require surgical evacuation. We report four patients with epidural hematoma developed after pain control procedures. Two procedures were facet joint blocks and the others were epidural blocks. Pain was the predominant initial symptom in these patients while two patients presented with post-procedural neurological deficits. Surgical evacuation of the hematoma was performed in two patients while in remaining two patients, surgery was initially recommended but not performed since symptoms were progressively improved. Three patients showed near complete recovery except for one patient who recovered with residual deficits. Although, spinal epidural hematoma is a rare condition, it can lead to serious complications like spinal cord compression. Therefore, it is important to be cautious while performing spinal pain control procedure to avoid such complications. Surgical treatment is an effective option to resolve the spinal epidural hematoma.
Acupuncture ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Zygapophyseal Joint

OBJECTIVE: To compare a newly developed minimally-invasive method for percutaneous transforaminal epidural injection (INJ group) with the existing method for lumbar epidural catheterization (CATH group). METHOD: Through anatomical review of experimental rats, the cephalic one fourth of the neural foramen was selected as the target point for drug delivery. After the rats had undergone lumbar epidural catheterization, lidocaine, and 1% methylene blue were injected through the unilateral or bilateral L5/6 neural foramen in the INJ group, and through an epidural catheter in the CATH group. Measurement of body weight and the mechanical allodynia test before and after injection of lidocaine, and fine dissection after injection were performed. RESULTS: Results of the mechanical allodynia test of 1.0% lidocaine 50 microl injection in the CATH group were statistically similar to those of 0.5% lidocaine 100 microl injection in the INJ group. The results of 2.0% lidocaine 50 microl injection in the CATH group were statistically similar to those of 1.0% lidocaine 100 microl injection in the INJ group. After dissection, only one distal partial spinal nerve was stained by methylene blue 50 microl through the transforaminal pathway. However, the dorsal root ganglion, nerve root, and adjacent hemi-partial spinal cord were stained by methylene blue 100 microl through the transforaminal pathway. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous transforaminal epidural injection is practical, easy, and safe, and, in particular, does not cause significant pain compared to the existing lumbar epidural catheterization. We expect this method to be effective in an animal study showing that drug delivery to the spinal epidural space is necessary.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Epidural Space ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Hyperalgesia ; Injections, Epidural ; Lidocaine ; Methylene Blue ; Rats ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Nerves

Epidural anesthesia is widely practiced for lower aMominal surgery and painless delivery in many hospitals and its complications are much lower than that of spinal anesthesia, Lidocaine is a most commonly using local anesthetic in clinics and it has been used exten-sively for epidural anesthesia with very good results. It has a rapid onset of acton with a good analgesic effect and a reasonable duration of action (about l - 11/2 hr). The primary purpose of this study is to observe toxic levels of plasma lidocaine concentration in patients who receive different doses of lidocaine epidurally. Twenty-two adult patients were divided into three groups. With patients in a sittng position, single epidural anesthesias were perfomed with a 17 gauge Tuohy needle. The 2% lidocaine mixed with 1: 200,000 epinephrine was used as a local anes- thetic. Of these, 7 patients in group l were given 400 mg and 8 patients in group 2 were given 500 mg and 7 patients in group 3 were given 600 mg. The plasma concentrations of lidocaine were measured by immunofluorescence assay at the intervals of 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. The peak plasma concentrations in the group 1, 2 and 3 were 2.24+/-0.51, 3.84+/-0.90 and 4.36+/-1. 16ug/ml (mean+/-SD) respectively. The peak plasma concentrations were measured 15 and 30 minutes after the epidural injection in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The maximum peak plasma concentration among 22 patients was 6.48ug/ml. These results indicate that the injection of 2% lidoeaine 500, 600mg with epinephrine is considered dangerous to some extent because the plasma concentrations of lidocaine exceed toxic levels occasionally.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Epinephrine ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Lidocaine* ; Needles ; Plasma*

Analgetic effect of small amount of morphine on spinal and epidural anesthesia was investigated. Patients who received morphine showed marked analgetic effect compared to control group. It was found that the amount of morphine needed was larger for epidural anesthesia than for spinal anesthesia, the former being more than 2mg, and the latter less than 0.5mg. Spinal and epidural morhphine caused complications on several occasions: pruritis, respiratory depression with pinpoint pupil and urinary retention in spinal anesthesia, and nauses and pruritis in epidural anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural* ; Morphine* ; Pruritus ; Pupil ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Urinary Retention

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to evaluate the relevant spreading for contrasts in the ventral and dorsal epidural space during retrograde interlaminar ventral epidural injections (RIVEIs) with the catheter tip placed ventral or dorsal to the spinal nerve. METHODS: For RIVEIs, a 17G Tuohy needle was inserted in retrograde fashion. Catheter containing a removable stylet was inserted and advanced via the needle and passed to the lower aspect of contralateral pedicles in 75 patients. Fluoroscopic images were recorded at 1.5 ml increments of contrast. Using the fluoroscopy, the contrast spreading pattern and whether the contrast spread to the specific anatomic landmarks (superior aspect of the supra-adjacent intervertebral disc [SIVD] and inferior aspect of the infra-adjacent intervertebral disc [IIVD]) were evaluated. Whether the catheter was placed ventral or dorsal to the spinal nerve was assessed with the computed tomography axial and sagittal views. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the mean levels of epidural contrast spreading extents between ventral and dorsal catheter placements. Ventral or dorsal catheter tip placements demonstrated ventral concurrent flows over to the SIVD and IIVD over 80% of subjects with 3.0 ml of contrast. CONCLUSIONS: During RIVEIs, the catheter tip placed ventral to the spinal nerve did not show superiority with regards to epidural spreading extent as compared with dorsal catheter placement. One-level instead of a two-level injection may be considered for the two-level central pathology.
Anatomic Landmarks ; Catheters ; Contrast Media ; Epidural Space ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Intervertebral Disc ; Needles ; Spinal Nerves