Epidural steroid injections in lumbar disc herniation- Evidence synthesis from 72 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and a total of 7701 patients.

Introduction: The role of epidural steroid injection in treating sciatica still remains debatable. Research question: To compare epidural steroid injection with other manipulations in terms of pain control, quality of life and other parameters (Q1), compare the various available ESI alternatives regarding the approach (Q2), compare ESI to analgesia (Q3), identify the ideal ESI protocol (Q4), compare different guiding techniques (Q5) and determine the role of ESI as e predictive factor for the outcome. Material and methods: This systematic review searched three databases from inception to February 2024. Independent reviewers assessed and gathered the data and also the quality of evidence was critically appreciated. Results: The systematic review included 72 randomized controlled trials 7701 patients. There was a big variation among the aim of the studies. ESI proved to surpass other conservative methods for treating sciatica, however it does not provide long-term results. US- guided as well asFL-guided ESI was proved to have superior results. On the other hand, the role of ESIs in predicting the requirement for surgery is understudied. Comparing the different approaches in ESI the TFESI proved mostly to have better results.Surgery still remains the method with the most instant results providing also long-term treatment. Discussion and conclusions: ESI has superior results to other conservative treatment modalities for sciatica; However surgery seems to have more immediate effect and better long term outcome. Apart from different approaches, additional agents such as amitriptyline proved to have effect when administered additionally to ESI. More studies need to be conducted for ESI as a predictive factor for the outcome or need of surgery.