Objectives: To describe how the anatomy of the cervicothoracic vertebrae predicates the appropriate fluoroscopic views for confirming safe needle placement during the performance of interlaminar cervical epidural injections.
Methods and results: Illustrations, cadaver models, and radiographic images were correlated and used to illustrate and derive a mathematical model to demonstrate the utility of a contralateral oblique fluoroscopic view during the performance of cervical interlaminar injections.
Conclusions: When confirming needle placement during a cervical interlaminar epidural injection, in addition to the anterior-posterior fluoroscopic view, the oblique image, contralateral to the needle tip position, may provide superior information to that afforded by a lateral view.
Wiley Periodicals, Inc.