| Abstract | PURPOSE: Prospective study evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of CT guided cervical epidural injections for mechanical cervicobrachial neuralgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2003 and August 2004, 34 patients (16 females, 18 males) with mean age of 44.5 years were enrolled. Enrollment criteria included mechanical cervicobrachial neuralgia of more than 1 month's duration, refractory to medical management, with good correlation between clinical and imaging findings. An evaluation using the Neck Pain Disability Score (NPDS) and associated Secondary criteria was performed by a single observer at day 0, day 30 and day 90. The injections were performed under CT guidance. RESULTS: The symptomatic efficacy of CT guided injections at 3 months was 45% using the NPDS, 47.1% using an analog pain scale, and 58.8% as graded by patients (effective/very effective). Tolerability was excellent (55.9%), moderate (41.2%) and poor (2.9%). CONCLUSION: CT guided cervical epidural injections appear effective and well-tolerated. A blinded randomized study could validate its value. However, a study comparing steroids and placebo raises ethical concerns. |
| Authors | J Lasbleiz, D Siegfried, G Chales, F Marin, M Sighetti, R Duvauferrier
(Affiliation: Service de Radiologie du CHU, Hôpital sud, 16 boulevard de Bulgarie, 35200 Rennes, France. jeremy.lasbleiz at laposte.net)
|
| Journal | Journal de radiologie
(J Radiol)
Vol. 89
Issue 3 Pt 1
Pg. 317-23
(Mar 2008)
ISSN: 0221-0363 France |
| Vernacular Title | Evaluation des infiltrations épidurales cervicales sous contrôle tomodensitométrique dans le traitement des névralgies cervico-brachiales mécaniques. |
| PMID | 18408630
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article)
|
| Chemical References |
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Prednisolone
- prednisolone acetate
|
| Topics |
- Adult
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
(administration & dosage)
- Brachial Plexus Neuritis
(drug therapy, radiography)
- Female
- Humans
- Injections, Epidural
(methods)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prednisolone
(administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
- Prospective Studies
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
|
