Epidural Glucocorticoid Injections in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Epidural injections are common. An estimated 10 million to 11 million injections (2.2 million in the Medicare population) are administered annually in the United States. 1 Although many injections are used for indications other than spinal stenosis, epidural injections have become almost an expected part of a comprehensive nonoperative treatment protocol in patients with this condition. Yet, evidence to support this practice is incomplete and conflicting. 2 – 4 In a January 2013 review and recommendation statement, the North American Spine Society 2 concluded that “there is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation for or against the efficacy of transforaminal epidural steroid injections in . . .