Clinical Outcomes of Transforaminal Injection in the Management of Lumber Radiculopathy

Authors

  • Muhammad Farooq Peshawar general hospital,Peshawar,Pakistan
  • Naeem ul Haq Mardan Medical Complex,Mardan,Pakistan
  • Tabrez Wali Shah Peshawar general hospital,Peshawar,Pakistan
  • Mumtaz Ali Ali Institute of Neurosciences,Irfan General Hospital,Peshawar,Pakistan
  • Ali Shah Jehan MMC General Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36552/pjns.v29i1.1059

Abstract

Objective:  The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of transforaminal dexamethasone injection in patients with lumber radiculopathy.

Material and Methods:  This one-year cross-sectional study was carried out at Afridi Medical Complex from February 2022 to January 2023. The included patients of lumber radiculopathy underwent a single dose of transforaminal dexamethasone injection under the guidance of a fluoroscope. The outcome measures including pain, disability, and mobility were assessed through VAS, RMDQ, and FTFD before, one month, and two months post-intervention.

Results:  The study included 487 patients undergoing the intervention, the mean age of participants was 52.3. Following the injection, the mean leg pain score improved from a baseline of 8.2 ± 1.1 to 3.0 ± 0.8 (p < 0.001). One-month post-injection, it further decreased to 2.5 ± 0.7 (p < 0.001) and at two months to 2.0 ± 0.6
(p < 0.001). When measured at baseline the mobility score of FTFD was 18.6 ± 4.5 cm which then improved to 11.2 ± 3.7 cm after one month and then to a further 7.8 ± 2.9 cm at two months (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:  For those patients unresponsive to conservative treatment options including medication and physical therapy, transforaminal dexamethasone injection is a safe and effective intervention in terms of improvement in different outcome measures including pain, disability, mobility, and return to work.

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Published

2025-03-01

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