Some evidence seen for ESIs reducing pain and disability in cervical and lumbar radiculopathies and possibly in lumbar spinal stenosis
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — There is some evidence for epidural steroid injections (ESIs) reducing pain and disability in cervical and lumbar radiculopathies and possibly in lumbar spinal stenosis, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Neurology.
Carmel Armon, M.D., from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to evaluate the use of ESIs in cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis and radiculopathies. Due to the variability in efficacy measures, differences based on any measure of success were reported as the success rate difference (SRD).
Ninety randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. The researchers found that ESIs probably reduced short-term pain (SRD, −24.0 percent; number needed to treat [NNT], 4) and disability (SRD, −16.0 percent; NNT, 6) and possibly reduced long-term disability (SRD, −11.1 percent; NNT, 9) in cervical and lumbar radiculopathies. The evidence was insufficient to determine whether ESIs reduced long-term pain in radiculopathies. ESIs possibly reduced short-term (SRD, −26.2 percent; NNT, 4) and long-term (SRD, −11.8 percent; NNT, 8) disability in lumbar spinal stenosis, but there was no reduction in short-term pain; insufficient evidence was seen for determining whether ESIs reduced long-term pain. The evidence was insufficient for determining the effectiveness of ESIs in cervical spinal stenosis.
“The systematic review found evidence that ESIs are probably effective in reducing short-term pain and disability caused by radiculopathy and possibly effective in reducing short-term disability, but not pain, in lumbar spinal stenosis,” the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to industry.
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