Comparison of blunt and sharp needles for transforaminal epidural steroid injections

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, transforaminal anterior epidural steroid enjeksiyonunda keskin ve künt uçlu iğnelerin komplikasyon in - sidansını karşılaştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Retrospektif çalışmada, Haziran 2004 ve Aralık 2008 tarihleri arasında keskin veya künt uçlu iğne ile transfora- minal epidural steroid enjeksiyonu uygulanan 185 olgu değerlendirildi. Hastalar yaş, cinsiyet, tanı, iğne tipi (keskin veya künt uçlu), lokal anestezik ve steroid miktarı, komplikasyonlar (parestezi, lomber ponksiyon, kanama, felç, damar içi penetrasyon, baş ağrısı, sırt ağrısı, alt ekstremitelerde geçici motor kayıp) kaydedildi. Bulgular: Künt uçlu iğne grubunda 3 olguda, keskin uçlu iğne grubunda 8 olguda işlem sırasında parestezi görüldü ancak gruplar arasında anlamlı fark bulunmadı. Vasküler penetrasyon künt uçlu grupta 2 olguda, keskin uçlu iğne grubunda 13 olguda gözlendi; gruplar arasında anlamlı fark bulundu (p

Transforaminal epidural steroid enjeksiyonları için künt ve keskin uçlu iğnelerin karşılaştırılması

Objectives: Te aim of this study was to compare the sharp and blunt needles in order to determine the incidence of compli - cations during transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injections. Methods: In this retrospective study, 185 cases that undergo transforaminal epidural steroid injection with sharp or blunt needles were evaluated between June 2004 and December 2008. Patients age, sex, diagnosis, needle type (sharp or blunt), volume of local anesthetic and steroid injected, complications (paresthesia, dural puncture, bleeding, paralysis, intravascular penetration, headache, local back pain, temporary motor loss in lower extremities) was recorded. Results: 3 cases in blunt needle group and 8 cases in sharp needle group showed paresthesia during the procedure. Te dif- ference was not found to be signifcant among the groups. Vascular penetration was observed in 2 cases in blunt and 13 cases in sharp needle group and the diference between groups was statistically signifcant (p<0.001). Dural puncture and headache incidence were not signifcant when the two groups are compared. Te local back pain at the injection site had a higher inci - dence in the blunt needle group. Conclusion: When using the blunt needles, vascular penetration and paresthesia were less during transforaminal epidural steroid injections. Terefore blunt needles seem to be more advantageous.

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