Transforaminal epidural block (TFEB) with local anesthetics and steroid is effective to treat spinal radicular pain. However, inadvertent intravascular injection can lead to severe neurologic complications. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) during epidural block might increase the detection rate of intravascular penetration, compared to real-time fluoroscopy (RTF). But, DSA has disadvantages, such as additional radiation exposure to physicians and participants and the high cost of the new and upgraded fluoroscopic equipment. In this study, it was designed to compare DSA and RTF for detection of intravascular penetration in the same participant who underwent cervical TFEB. The investigators prospectively examined the participants who received cervical TFEB. The needle position was confirmed using biplanar fluoroscopy and 2 ml of nonionic contrast media was injected at the rate of 0.5 ml/sec under RTF. Thirty seconds later, 2 ml of nonionic contrast media was injected at the rate of 0.5 ml/sec under DSA.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
128
DSA was used for detection of intravascular injection
RTF was used for detection of intravascular injection
Kyungpook National University Hospital
Daegu, South Korea
The incidence of intravascular injection
The incidence of intravascular injection during cervical transforaminal block
Time frame: 4 seconds after injection of contrast media
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