Susanne Bensler1,2, Reto Sutter3,4, Christian W A Pfirrmann5,6, Cynthia K Peterson7,8. 1. Department of Radiology, Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. susanne.bensler@balgrist.ch. 2. Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 3, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. susanne.bensler@balgrist.ch. 3. Department of Radiology, Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. reto.sutter@balgrist.ch. 4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 3, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. reto.sutter@balgrist.ch. 5. Department of Radiology, Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. christian.pfirrmann@balgrist.ch. 6. Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 3, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. christian.pfirrmann@balgrist.ch. 7. Department of Radiology, Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. cynthia.peterson@balgrist.ch. 8. Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Pestalozzistrasse 3, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. cynthia.peterson@balgrist.ch.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate long-term pain reduction and 'improvement' in patients with indirect cervical nerve-root-blocks in comparison to MRI findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients with MRI confirmed cervical radiculopathy and an indirect cervical nerve-root-block were included. Two radiologists independently evaluated the MRI examinations. 12 different MRI abnormalities at the level and side of infiltration were compared to pain relief and 'improvement' at 1-month, 3-months and 1-year post injection. RESULTS: The proportion of patients reporting clinically relevant 'improvement' was 36.7% at 1-month, 53.9% at 3-months and 68.1% at 1-year. At 1-month post injection, a statistically significantly lower percentage of patients eventually requiring surgery reported improvement and lower NRS change scores compared to those who did not undergo surgery (p = 0.001). Patients with extrusion of the disc were around 4-times more likely to have surgery. At 1-year post-injection the presence of nerve-root compromise was significantly linked to treatment outcome (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Patients with nerve root compression were more likely to report improvement at 1 year. Patients with disc extrusions have less pain relief and are 4 times more likely to go to surgery than patients with disc protrusions. KEY POINTS: • Good long term outcomes after indirect nerve root infiltrations with non-particulate steroids. • The presence of nerve root compression was a predictive finding of 'improvement'. • Significantly less patients subsequently having surgery had lower NRS scores 1-month post injection. • There is less pain relief in patients with disc extrusions. • There are less improvement in patients with modic type I changes.
PURPOSE: To investigate long-term pain reduction and 'improvement' in patients with indirect cervical nerve-root-blocks in comparison to MRI findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients with MRI confirmed cervical radiculopathy and an indirect cervical nerve-root-block were included. Two radiologists independently evaluated the MRI examinations. 12 different MRI abnormalities at the level and side of infiltration were compared to pain relief and 'improvement' at 1-month, 3-months and 1-year post injection. RESULTS: The proportion of patients reporting clinically relevant 'improvement' was 36.7% at 1-month, 53.9% at 3-months and 68.1% at 1-year. At 1-month post injection, a statistically significantly lower percentage of patients eventually requiring surgery reported improvement and lower NRS change scores compared to those who did not undergo surgery (p = 0.001). Patients with extrusion of the disc were around 4-times more likely to have surgery. At 1-year post-injection the presence of nerve-root compromise was significantly linked to treatment outcome (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION:Patients with nerve root compression were more likely to report improvement at 1 year. Patients with disc extrusions have less pain relief and are 4 times more likely to go to surgery than patients with disc protrusions. KEY POINTS: • Good long term outcomes after indirect nerve root infiltrations with non-particulate steroids. • The presence of nerve root compression was a predictive finding of 'improvement'. • Significantly less patients subsequently having surgery had lower NRS scores 1-month post injection. • There is less pain relief in patients with disc extrusions. • There are less improvement in patients with modic type I changes.
Entities:
Keywords:
CT guided; Cervical nerve root block; Indirect; Long term outcome; MRI
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