Ultrasound-Guided Microendoscopic Versus Fluoroscopic-Guided Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 64 years old of either sex * Disease status of American Society of Anesthesiologists grades I to II * Patients presenting with single-level disc disease and radiculopathy (L2-L3; L3-L4; L4-L5) for steroid injection * Confirmation of herniated disk by CT or MRI * Able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Age under 18 or over 64 years old * Pregnant women * Disease status of American Society of Anesthesiologists grades III to IV * Unable to provide an informed consent * Radiculopathies at multiple spinal levels * Non-lumbar herniated discs * Clinically obvious or known spinal deformity or stenosis * Previous spine surgery * Local or systemic infection * Allergy to steroids, anesthetics, or contrast material * Uncorrectable coagulopathy and patients on anticoagulation therapy * Patients who refuse the procedure * Spine tuberculosis or tumors * Prior injections within 3 months