CEACCP: Epidural Steroids (Read)

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Key points

• Epidural steroids are used in the treatment of radicular and other spinal pain of an inflammatory origin emanating from the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
• The use of epidural administration of steroids is to produce higher local concentrations at an inflamed nerve root and other areas of inflammation in the spinal canal area.
• The three most common methods are via the caudal route, the interlaminar approach, and the transforaminal approach.
• Different steroid preparations have dissimilar physicochemical properties and these may affect outcomes and side-effects.
• There is an ongoing debate with regard to the use of particulate and non-particulate steroids for transforaminal epidural injections for chronic pain patients.