Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37946336›Full record

ArticleAsian spine journal2023

Comparison of Efficacy between Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Technique without Contrast versus with Contrast in Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Waroot Pholsawatchai, Park Manakul, Warisara Lertcheewanan, Koopong Siribumrungwoung, Thongchai Suntharapa, Rattalerk Arunakul

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Asian spine journal, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Waroot PholsawatchaiChulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Park ManakulDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Warisara LertcheewananDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Koopong SiribumrungwoungChulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Thongchai SuntharapaDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Rattalerk ArunakulDepartment of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Thammasat University · TH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designA prospective longitudinal cohort study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of two different techniques of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) with contrast and without contrast in treating lumbar radiculopathy. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Epidural injections are one of the most frequently used nonsurgical treatment options for managing lumbar radiculopathy. This study aims to simplify the TFESI technique, which is effective and requires less effort to replicate.

methodsWe collected data on 118 patients who underwent TFESI without contrast versus TFESI with contrast for lumbar radiculopathy. The pain was evaluated using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain at 5 minutes, 2 hours, 2 weeks, and 2 months. The functional status was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score. The operation time and fluoroscopic dosage were also measured using this score.

resultsTwo groups of patients with radiculopathy were studied, comprising of 56 patients in the non-contrast group (NC group) and 62 patients in the contrast group (C group). There was a significant decrease in pain, as evaluated by NRS, in the C group compared to the NC group at 5 minutes post-procedure (3.39±1.54 vs. 3.86±0.72, with a p-value of 0.039). There was no significant difference in NRS scores at 2 hours, 2 weeks, and 2 months, as well as in ODI scores. The operation time and fluoroscopic dosage were lower in the group without contrast compared to the contrast group, with 12.58±3.30 minutes per level vs. 16.70±5.94 minutes per level (p <0.001) and 3.62±1.66 mGy vs. 5.32±2.74 mGy per level (p =0.014), respectively. No complications were reported in either group.

conclusionsThere is no difference in pain and functional outcome when treating lumbar radiculopathy with or without contrast using TFESI. The TFESI without contract technique has a shorter operation time and lower intra-operative fluoroscopic dosage without complications.

Indexed as

Contrast mediaInjectionRadiculopathySpinal stenosis

Identifiers

PMID37946336
PMCPMC10764127
OpenAlexW4388572465

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.