Can Epidural Contrast Dispersal Pattern Help to Predict the Outcome of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections in Patients with Lumbar Radicular Pain

To investigate the relationship between epidurographic contrast dispersal patterns and both immediate and short-term clinical effectiveness of lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) in patients with radicular back pain. A digital database of 64 patients who underwent single-level lumbar TFESI for unilateral lumbar radicular pain was scanned. The type of contrast pattern was analyzed by 1 physiatrist and defined as follows: type 1 (tubular appearance), type 2 (nerve root visible as a filling defect), or type 3 (cloud-like appearance). Pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) and recorded before injection and 2 days, 2 weeks, and 3 months after injection. The mean age was 45.9 ± 13.5 years (range, 22–80 years), and the mean duration of symptoms was 5.7 ± 4.2 months. Contrast distribution patterns were as follows: type 1 in 33 patients (51.6%), type 2 in 18 patients (28.1%), and type 3 in 13 patients (20.3%). Mean decrease in VAS scores at all time points was statistically significant in 3 types of contrast dispersal patterns (P < 0.05). Differences in improvements of VAS scores obtained at any assessment period and success rates were not statistically significant between groups. However, the ratio of patients who achieved 50% or greater reduction in pain scores was higher in type 1 and type 2 than type 3 at each follow-up point. TFSEIs have a beneficial effect in managing lumbar radicular pain regardless of contrast pattern type. Success rates were higher in type 1 and type 2 than type 3. •Transforaminal epidural steroid injection is an effective treatment method for lumbar radicular pain in select cases.•Defining factors associated with better outcome may help to identify patients who will benefit from the procedure.•Regardless of contrast dispersal pattern, differences in improvements of pain scores were similar between groups.•Greater number of patients showed a ≥50% improvement in pain score in type 1 and type 2 than type 3 at follow-up points.