Efficacy of Combined Dorsal Root Ganglion Pulsed Radiofrequency and Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection on Radicular Neck Pain.

Abstract

AIM:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injection (TAESI) and dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency (DRG-PRF) therapy on the radicular neck pain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The results of 84 patients with cervical radicular pain who underwent combined DRG-PRF and TAESI under fluoroscopy were evaluated retrospectively. Primer outcome is the pain measurements of the patients before and after the procedure at the 1 < sup > st < /sup > , 3 < sup > rd < /sup > , and 6 < sup > th < /sup > months were evaluated with the Verbal Pain Scale (VPS). Our secondary outcome was the evaluation of patient satisfaction in the 1 < sup > st < /sup > , 3 < sup > rd < /sup > , and 6 < sup > th < /sup > months after the interventional treatment, and it was considered significant if it was evaluated as ?good? above 50%.

RESULTS:

We found statistically significant decrease in the pain scores of the patients in the 1 < sup > st < /sup > , 3 < sup > rd < /sup > , and 6 < sup > th < /sup > months compared to the pre-intervention (VPS 0) (p < 0.001). After the procedure, the patients expressed their satisfaction level as 69.1% at the 1 < sup > st < /sup > month, 71.5% at the 3 < sup > rd < /sup > month, and 72.6% at the 6th month as ?very good/good?. While the operation was mostly performed at the C5-6 level on both sides, it was seen that 61.9% of the operations were applied from the right side and 38.1% from the left side. No adverse effects or fatal neurological complications were observed.

CONCLUSION:

Although the efficacy and complications of cervical TAESI and DRG-PRF treatment are controversial in the literature, we think that this combined treatment can provide effective pain palliation in experienced hands with appropriate patient selection, considering the risk / benefit ratio.

• Authors: Ayse Kinci, Sinem Sari, Esra Ertilav, Osman Nuri Aydin
• Journal: Turkish neurosurgery (Turk Neurosurg) Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pg. 58-62 ( 2023) ISSN: 1019-5149 [Print] Turkey
• PMID: 35929031 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Steroids

Topics

• Humans
• Neck Pain (therapy)
• Ganglia, Spinal
• Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment (methods)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Steroids