J Korean Pain Soc.  1991 Nov;4(2):152-156.

Epidural Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy

• Choe H
• Han YJ
• Baek HJ
• Kim DC

Abstract

Cervical radiculopathy has been recognized as a common cause of neck, shoulder, and arm pain. It was conventionally treated with rest, traction, cervical collars, manipulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs with varying results. Surgery has not always been successful so the idea of epidural steroid injection was developed as in the case of lumbar epidural injections, for the treatment of low back pain and sciatica. Thirty one patients with evidence of cervical radiculopathy were treated with injections of triamcinolone acetate into the cervical epidural space. The effect of the steroid injection could be evaluated in twenty one patients who received epidural injections more than twice. No improvement was seen in 6 patients and 15 patients showed good to excellent pain relief for a week to over 6 months. Epidural steroid injection seems to have a positive role in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy.

MeSH Terms

Arm
Epidural Space
Humans
Injections, Epidural
Low Back Pain
Neck
Radiculopathy*
Sciatica
Shoulder
Traction
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
Triamcinolone
Triamcinolone