MedPath

Particulate vs. Nonparticulate Epidural Steroid Injections for Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis

Phase 4
Withdrawn
Conditions
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03245671
Lead Sponsor
Hospital for Special Surgery, New York
Brief Summary

Chronic lumbosacral radiculopathy secondary to lumbar spinal stenosis affects a large number of individuals, and there is a general lack of consensus in the medical community in terms of effective treatments for this problem. By assessing the relative efficacy of transforaminal epidural injections of particulate and nonparticulate steroids, this study attempts to further define the appropriate conservative management of painful unilateral radiculopathies due to unilateral lumbar foraminal stenosis. Patients will be randomized to receive a transforaminal epidural injection of either a particulate (Kenalog) or nonparticulate (Decadron) steroid. Outcomes will be assessed at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months following the injection.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
WITHDRAWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
Not specified
Inclusion Criteria
  • English speaking/reading adults age 18-90 years
  • Patients with complaints of unilateral radicular lower extremity symptoms
  • NRS pain score >= 5
  • Pain symptoms for at least 1 month's duration
  • Patients deemed appropriate for lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections by treating spine specialist
  • Targeted injection level for L4 or L5
  • MRI of lumbosacral spine that demonstrates and confirms single-level neural compression secondary to unilateral lumbosacral foraminal or subarticular stenosis consistent with clinical history and findings
  • Lumbar foraminal stenosis severity of grades 1, 2, and 3
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with multiple symptomatic levels
  • Patients who are deemed not appropriate to undergo lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections (e.g., allergy to local anesthetics, radiographic dye contrast, patients with high bleeding tendency, pregnancy)
  • Patients involved with litigation or worker's compensation cases
  • Patients who are unable to answer the questionnaires and perform follow-up visits
  • Patients who have active, concurrent painful diagnoses (e.g., hip osteoarthritis, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, knee pain, peripheral vascular disease, or peripheral neuropathy) that may confuse clinical picture and impact patients' rating and perception of their low back and radicular symptoms
  • Patients with other spinal pathologies confirmed on imaging that may explain patient's pain
  • Patients who have additional severe foraminal stenosis inferior to the symptomatic level (e.g., symptomatic L4 foraminal stenosis with severe L5 foraminal stenosis) will not have those levels injected
  • Non-English speakers

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
DecadronEpidural Steroid InjectionPatients in the Decadron group will receive epidural injections containing a total of 15 mg Decadron.
KenalogKenalog Injectable ProductPatients in the Kenalog group will receive epidural injections containing a total of 80 mg Kenalog.
DecadronDecadron Phosphate, InjectablePatients in the Decadron group will receive epidural injections containing a total of 15 mg Decadron.
KenalogEpidural Steroid InjectionPatients in the Kenalog group will receive epidural injections containing a total of 80 mg Kenalog.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Improvement in function (6 months post-injection)6 months post-injection

This will be measured using the ODI (0-100 scale). A higher score represents greater disability (greater pain and functional limitations).

Improvement in function (2 weeks post-injection)2 weeks post-injection

This will be measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI; 0-100 scale). A higher score represents greater disability (greater pain and functional limitations).

Improvement in function (6 weeks post-injection)6 weeks post-injection

This will be measured using the ODI (0-100 scale). A higher score represents greater disability (greater pain and functional limitations).

Improvement in function (3 months post-injection)3 months post-injection

This will be measured using the ODI (0-100 scale). A higher score represents greater disability (greater pain and functional limitations).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Medication use2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-injection

The use of any pain medications (e.g., opioids, anti-inflammatory drugs, neuropathic medications) will be collected.

Patient satisfaction with the procedure2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-injection

Satisfaction will be assessed using the North American Spine Society Outcome Questionnaire. Patients will be asked to pick from 4 multiple choice statements regarding their satisfaction with their procedure.

Quality of life2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-injection

This will be assessed using the Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey.

Side effects2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-injection

Side effects, including bleeding, infection, allergic reaction, dural puncture, nerve damage, and paralysis, will be collected.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Hospital for Special Surgery

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

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