Comparison of interlaminar and transforaminal epidural steroid injection for lumbosacral radiculopathy

Background: Low back pain due to Intervertebral disc herniation, intervertebral disc degeneration without disc herniation are the most common diagnosis of chronic persistent low back and lower extremity symptoms. Epidural steroid injections (ESI) are one of the most common interventional techniques for managing low back pain with or without lower extremity radiation Aims and objectives: Comparison of the effectiveness of lumbar Interlaminar and Transforaminal epidural steroid injections in managing various types of chronic low back pain. Material and methods: A total of 60 patients with history of lumbosacral radicular pain (≥3 months with VAS score ≥50) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine showing the exact disc level protrusion, who met the inclusion criteria were selected. With simple purposive sampling techniques, all patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group I Received 4 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine with 8mg dexamethasone through fluoroscopy guided interlaminar epidural route  and Group T Received 2ml of 0.25% bupivacaine with 4mg dexamethasone through transforaminal route. Baseline assessment was completed just before the randomization and then follow up SLRT and VAS score recordings were taken - post 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after the procedure.