Transforaminal epidural steroid injection
Updates to Article Attributes
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI), also known as transforaminal nerve root injections or nerve root blocks,are performed for the treatment and diagnosis of radicular pain. They differ from selective nerve root blocks (SNRB), as the aim is to get an "epidural spill" and get the injectate into the epidural space. TFESI are less selective than SNRBs, which are more accurate diagnostically.
Indications
This procedure is commonly performed to manage 3:
- discogenic radicular pain
- painful central canal stenosis, typically lumbar
- failed back syndrome
- non-specific low back pain
Procedure
Pre-procedure evaluation
Reviewing past imaging should aid the practitioner in technique and equipment selection. Correlating the patient's history and examination with the imaging findings is key to ensuring the correct side, level and procedure-type (e.g. epidural vs selective) is performed.
Equipment
Nonparticulate steroids (e.g. dexamethasone) are usually preferred over particulate steroids (e.g. triamcinolone) in TFESI (per United States of America's Food and Drug Administration) to reduce the risk of vascular complications such as spinal cord infarction 1, however, complications have been reported with both types of steroid 2,3. Blunt-tip needles may also reduce vascular complication rates 3.
See spinal interventional procedures for further details.
Technique
Fluoroscopy and CT are the most common imaging guidance methods, and technique will depend on regional preferences, practitioner preference, equipment availability, and type of injection. However, an infraneural approach (below the nerve root) is recommended to reduce the risk of vascular complications 3.
CT can be performed in those with contrast allergies, as gas can be injected instead of iodinated contrast to confirm an epidural needle tip position ref. When contrast is injected usually a small volume (e.g. 1 mL) is needed, the pattern of contrast dispersion (e.g. focal non-linear, linear, tram-track) nor the location (e.g. extraforaminal, foraminal or in the lateral recess) has not been shown to influence clinical outcomes 2,4.
Once a satisfactory needle tip position is obtained adjacent to the nerve root, a mixture of steroid and anaesthetic can be injected.
Complications
Complications generally associated with spinal interventional procedures with TFESI-specific complications including 3:
- transient, increased pain resolving without further intervention
- spinal cord infarction, which can occur with particulate and non-particulate steroids; other mechanisms such as vasospasm or dissection proposed
- numbness or weakness due to local anaesthetic including Horner syndrome 5
Outcomes
Such injections are performed in order to give the patient pain relief, so then to enable them to undertake physiotherapy.
-<p><strong>Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI)</strong>, also known as <strong>transforaminal nerve root injections </strong>or<strong> nerve root blocks</strong>,<strong> </strong>are performed for the treatment and diagnosis of radicular pain. They differ from <a href="/articles/selective-nerve-root-blocks">selective nerve root blocks (SNRB)</a>, as the aim is to get an "epidural spill" and get the injectate into the epidural space. TFESI are less selective than SNRBs, which are more accurate diagnostically. </p><h4>Indications</h4><p>This procedure is commonly performed to manage <sup>3</sup>:</p><ul>-<li>discogenic radicular pain</li>-<li>painful central canal stenosis, typically lumbar</li>-<li><a href="/articles/failed-back-syndrome">failed back syndrome</a></li>-<li>non-specific <a href="/articles/low-back-pain">low back pain</a>-</li>-</ul><h4>Procedure</h4><h5>Pre-procedure evaluation</h5><p>Reviewing past imaging should aid the practitioner in technique and equipment selection. Correlating the patient's history and examination with the imaging findings is key to ensuring the correct side, level and procedure-type (e.g. epidural vs selective) is performed. </p><h5>Equipment</h5><p>Nonparticulate steroids (e.g. dexamethasone) are usually preferred over particulate steroids (e.g. triamcinolone) in TFESI (per United States of America's Food and Drug Administration) to reduce the risk of vascular complications such as <a href="/articles/acute-spinal-cord-ischaemia-syndrome">spinal cord infarction</a> <sup>1</sup>, however, complications have been reported with both types of steroid <sup>2,3</sup>. Blunt-tip needles may also reduce vascular complication rates <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>See <a href="/articles/spinal-interventional-procedures">spinal interventional procedures</a> for further details.</p><h5>Technique</h5><p>Fluoroscopy and CT are the most common imaging guidance methods, and technique will depend on regional preferences, practitioner preference, equipment availability, and type of injection. However, an infraneural approach (below the nerve root) is recommended to reduce the risk of vascular complications <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>CT can be performed in those with contrast allergies, as gas can be injected instead of iodinated contrast to confirm an epidural needle tip position <sup>ref</sup>. When contrast is injected usually a small volume (e.g. 1 mL) is needed, the pattern of contrast dispersion (e.g. focal non-linear, linear, tram-track) nor the location (e.g. extraforaminal, foraminal or in the lateral recess) has not been shown to influence clinical outcomes <sup>2,4</sup>.</p><p>Once a satisfactory needle tip position is obtained adjacent to the nerve root, a mixture of steroid and anaesthetic can be injected. </p><h4>Complications</h4><p>Complications generally associated with <a href="/articles/spinal-interventional-procedures">spinal interventional procedures</a> with TFESI-specific complications including <sup>3</sup>:</p><ul>-<li>transient, increased pain resolving without further intervention</li>-<li>spinal cord infarction, which can occur with particulate and non-particulate steroids; other mechanisms such as vasospasm or dissection proposed</li>-<li>numbness or weakness due to local anaesthetic including <a href="/articles/horner-syndrome">Horner syndrome</a> <sup>5</sup>-</li>- +<p><strong>Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI)</strong>, also known as <strong>transforaminal nerve root injections </strong>or<strong> nerve root blocks</strong>,<strong> </strong>are performed for the treatment and diagnosis of radicular pain. They differ from <a href="/articles/selective-nerve-root-blocks">selective nerve root blocks (SNRB)</a>, as the aim is to get an "epidural spill" and get the injectate into the epidural space. TFESI are less selective than SNRBs, which are more accurate diagnostically. </p><h4>Indications</h4><p>This procedure is commonly performed to manage <sup>3</sup>:</p><ul>
- +<li>discogenic radicular pain</li>
- +<li>painful central canal stenosis, typically lumbar</li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/failed-back-syndrome">failed back syndrome</a></li>
- +<li>non-specific <a href="/articles/low-back-pain">low back pain</a>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h4>Procedure</h4><h5>Pre-procedure evaluation</h5><p>Reviewing past imaging should aid the practitioner in technique and equipment selection. Correlating the patient's history and examination with the imaging findings is key to ensuring the correct side, level and procedure-type (e.g. epidural vs selective) is performed. </p><h5>Equipment</h5><p>Nonparticulate steroids (e.g. dexamethasone) are usually preferred over particulate steroids (e.g. triamcinolone) in TFESI (per United States of America's Food and Drug Administration) to reduce the risk of vascular complications such as <a href="/articles/acute-spinal-cord-ischaemia-syndrome">spinal cord infarction</a> <sup>1</sup>, however, complications have been reported with both types of steroid <sup>2,3</sup>. Blunt-tip needles may also reduce vascular complication rates <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>See <a href="/articles/spinal-interventional-procedures">spinal interventional procedures</a> for further details.</p><h5>Technique</h5><p>Fluoroscopy and CT are the most common imaging guidance methods, and technique will depend on regional preferences, practitioner preference, equipment availability, and type of injection. However, an infraneural approach (below the nerve root) is recommended to reduce the risk of vascular complications <sup>3</sup>.</p><p>CT can be performed in those with contrast allergies, as gas can be injected instead of iodinated contrast to confirm an epidural needle tip position <sup>ref</sup>. When contrast is injected usually a small volume (e.g. 1 mL) is needed, the pattern of contrast dispersion (e.g. focal non-linear, linear, tram-track) nor the location (e.g. extraforaminal, foraminal or in the lateral recess) has not been shown to influence clinical outcomes <sup>2,4</sup>.</p><p>Once a satisfactory needle tip position is obtained adjacent to the nerve root, a mixture of steroid and anaesthetic can be injected. </p><h4>Complications</h4><p>Complications generally associated with <a href="/articles/spinal-interventional-procedures">spinal interventional procedures</a> with TFESI-specific complications including <sup>3</sup>:</p><ul>
- +<li>transient, increased pain resolving without further intervention</li>
- +<li>spinal cord infarction, which can occur with particulate and non-particulate steroids; other mechanisms such as vasospasm or dissection proposed</li>
- +<li>numbness or weakness due to local anaesthetic including <a href="/articles/horner-syndrome">Horner syndrome</a> <sup>5</sup>
- +</li>
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