• Yongbum Park, Ji-Hae Lee, Ki Deok Park, Jae Ki Ahn, Jaehyun Park, and Haemi Jee.
• Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 Jul 1;92(7):575-86.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the short-term effects and advantages of ultrasound-guided caudal epidural steroid injections with fluoroscopy-guided epidural steroid injections for unilateral radicular pain in the lower lumbar spine.DesignA total of 120 patients with unilateral radicular pain were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the fluoroscopy or the ultrasound group. Complication frequencies during the procedures, treatment effects, functional improvement, and adverse events were compared after the procedures.ResultsThe verbal numerical rating scale and the Oswestry Disability Index improved 2 and 12 wks after the injections in both groups. Statistical differences were not observed in the verbal numerical rating scale, the Oswestry Disability Index, or the effectiveness of the procedure between the groups. Two cases of intravascular injections were observed in the fluoroscopy group, without the prevalence of complication between the groups.ConclusionsThe ultrasound approach with color Doppler mode may avoid intravascular injection-induced complications. The results showed similar improvements in short-term pain relief, function, and patient satisfaction with both ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance.

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