The Pain Source

By Chris Faubel, MD –

Image courtesy Dr. Hazem Eissa

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2009 Mar;88(3):239-46
MRI prediction of therapeutic response to epidural steroid injection in patients with cervical radiculopathy.
Fish DE, Kobayashi HW, Chang TL, Pham Q.Department of Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Get the abstract here

Summary of Study

-

• Purpose: to find out if particular MRI finding can predict therapeutic success from cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injections (C-ILESIs) in patients with cervical radiculopathy
• Continue Reading

Related Content:

• Complications of Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections
• Research – General Epidural Steroid Injections
• Videos: Cervical Interlaminar ESI
• Are EMG Findings Related to Epidural Steroid Injection Relief?
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review

By Chris Faubel, MD –

Source: The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. This is a 34 year old asymptomatic woman. Note the disc herniation contacting the cord between the 4th and 5th vertebrae

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1990;72:1178-1184
Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the cervical spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation
SD Boden, PR McCowin, DO Davis, TS Dina, AS Mark and S Wiesel
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20037
Get the abstract here

Summary of Study

• Purpose: to document the prevalence of cervical spine MRI pathology in asymptomatic individuals (false positives)
• Prospective study
• Sixty-three (63) asymptomatic volunteers (20-73 years old)
  • Subjects had to have no history of cervical pain or trauma, pain in the shoulder, or radicular symptoms referable to the cervical nerve-roots.
• Continue Reading

Related Content:

• Abnormal MRI Lumbar Disc Pathology in Asymptomatic Individuals
• Prevalence of Lumbar Spine Pathology on CAT scans in Asymptomatic Individuals
• Is Asymptomatic Lumbar Spine Pathology Predictive of Future Low Back Pain?
• Learning to Read MRI of the Spine
• Understanding the MRI of Cervical Nerve Compression

By Chris Faubel, MD –

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008 Sep;90(9):1932-8.
Perils of intravascular methylprednisolone injection into the vertebral artery. An animal study.
Okubadejo GO, Talcott MR, Schmidt RE, Sharma A, Patel AA, Mackey RB, Guarino AH, Moran CJ, Riew KD.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. gokubadejo@hotmail.com
Get the abstract here

Summary of Study

• Purpose: to investigate whether use of particulate steroids carried with it, a greater risk of neurologic damage from cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections
  
• Prospective, exploratory pilot study
• Animal study – eleven (11) adult, male pigs weighing between 110 and 136 pounds (50-62 kg)
  
• Continue Reading

Related Content:

• Complications of Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections
• Research – General Epidural Steroid Injections
• Which MRI Finding Predicts Benefit From Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections?
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review
• Radiopaque Contrast Use In Pain Medicine