Predictors of Clinical Response After Interlaminar Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection for Cervical Radiculopathy: A Retrospective Cohort Study
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 107
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Treatment response at 6 months (IMMPACT-defined responder rate)
研究概览
简要总结
Cervical epidural steroid injection is a commonly used treatment option for patients with cervical radicular pain who do not improve adequately with conservative treatment. Cervical radicular pain typically radiates from the neck to the shoulder, arm, or hand and may be accompanied by numbness, weakness or changes in reflexes. The most common causes are cervical disc herniation and cervical spondylosis. By reducing inflammation around the affected nerve root, epidural steroid injection may help relieve pain and improve function. Among available techniques, the interlaminar approach is frequently preferred in the cervical region because of its technical feasibility and safety profile.
Although interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection is widely used, treatment response varies among patients, and not all individuals experience the same degree of benefit. Identifying the factors associated with better or poorer clinical response may help improve patient selection and reduce unnecessary procedures.
This retrospective cohort study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes after interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection in patients with cervical radiculopathy and to investigate demographic, clinical, and procedure-related variables which may predict treatment response. By analyzing pain scores before and after the procedure, this study seeks to better define the predictors of clinical outcome following this intervention.
详细描述
This retrospective cohort study will review the medical records of patients who presented to the Pain Clinic of Mersin University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between January 1, 2018, and October 1, 2025, with neck pain related to cervical disc herniation and underwent interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection.
The study population will consist of adult patients who were diagnosed and/or followed by physicians in the research team, had neck pain associated with cervical disc herniation for at least 1 month and provided written informed consent for the procedure. Patients will be excluded if they had an active infection at the time of injection, a history of allergy to local anesthetic or contrast agents or a bleeding diathesis.
Data will be collected from existing medical records using a standardized data collection form. Variables of interest will include age, sex, duration of pain, clinical diagnosis, type of corticosteroid used, presence of fibromyalgia, use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), history of trigger point injection, electromyography findings and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11) pain scores recorded before the procedure and at 1-month and 6-month follow-up.
The primary aim of the study is to identify demographic, clinical, and procedure-related factors associated with clinical response after interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection in patients with cervical radiculopathy related to cervical disc herniation.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Observational
- 观察模型
- Cohort
- 时间视角
- Retrospective
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Age ≥ 18 years.
- •Presence of neck and upper extremity pain consistent with cervical radiculopathy
- •Persistence of symptoms for at least 1 month despite conservative treatment
- •Documented baseline NRS-11 pain score prior to the procedure and follow-up NRS-11 data available through at least 6 months after treatment.
排除标准
- •Active infection during the time of injection
- •Allergie to local anesthetics or contrast agents
- •History of bleeding diathesis.
- •Insufficient follow-up data (less than 6 months of follow-up NRS-11 documentation).
研究组 & 干预措施
Patients Undergoing Cervical Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection
This cohort includes eligible patients with cervical radiculopathy due to cervical disc herniation who received interlaminar cervical epidural steroid injection during the study period. In patients who received more than one procedure, only the first injection was analyzed. Clinical response was evaluated retrospectively based on pain scores documented before the procedure and during follow-up.
结局指标
主要结局
Treatment response at 6 months (IMMPACT-defined responder rate)
时间窗: 6 months
Responder defined as ≥50% reduction or ≥4-point decrease in NRS-11 compared with baseline.
次要结局
- Change in NRS-11 pain score from baseline(Baseline, 1 months, and 6 months)
研究者
Mesut Bakır
Associate Professor
Mersin University