Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of fluoroscopic cervical paramidline interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ESI) as well as to assess outcome predictors.
Methods: One hundred forty-three patients (M:F = 89:54, mean age = 53.1 years old) who received cervical paramidline interlaminar ESIs in 2011 were included in this study. Initial improvements at 2 weeks were assessed. For possible outcome predictors, clinical and MR variables were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests.
Results: Initial improvements after cervical paramidline interlaminar ESIs at 2 weeks were reported in 115 of 143 patients (80.8%). Patients with paresthesia only and no pain showed significantly fewer improvements after ESIs (11/19, 57.9%) than patients with pain (104/124, 83.9%) (p = 0.013). Other variables were not statistically significant outcome predictors.
Conclusions: Fluoroscopic paramidline interlaminar cervical ESIs effectively managed cervical radiculopathy, irrespective of the cause or zone of nerve root compression, and patients with paresthesia only experienced fewer improvements.