The Effect of Magnesium Deficiency on Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Success: An Observational Study

Overview

Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESE) is an interventional method frequently used in the treatment of radicular pain due to disc herniation. TFESE, which is applied under sterile conditions and under fluoroscopy guidance, increases its effectiveness when applied in the early period (first 3 months). Inflammation and increase in neurotransmitters in the nerve root due to disc herniation trigger pain. Steroids and local anesthetics applied to the nerve root with TFESE exhibit strong anti-inflammatory effects. Factors affecting the success of TFESE include the type and dose of drugs, the age of the patient, any accompanying comorbidities, the level of injection administered and other musculoskeletal problems. Studies on the effect of these parameters on the effectiveness of TFESE are limited.Cardiac arrhythmia, muscle spasms, tetany, fasciculation paresthesia, widespread body pain, impaired bone mineralization, electrolyte disorders such as hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, depression, and seizures may occur due to magnesium deficiency. One of the most important causes of low back pain is degenerative disc disease, and magnesium deficiency has been shown to be associated with low back pain.

The study will be conducted by retrospectively scanning the files of patients with paracentral/subarticular protruded disc herniation and who underwent transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESE) to the lumbosacral region, at the Algology Department of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, between January 2022 and January 2024. In order to prevent heterogeneity, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patients will be evaluated in consultation with a radiologist. The common consensus classification created by the American Society of Spine Radiology (ASSR), American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) and North American Spine Society (NASS) is used to classify disc herniations. will be used. Numeric Rating Scale-11 (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) will be recorded from the patients' files before the procedure, in the first month and in the third month to evaluate age, gender, symptom duration, pain and functionality. The initial pain severity of the patients will be determined by the NRS-11 score, and a decrease of 50% or more in the NRS-11 score in the first month after the procedure will be considered as benefiting from the treatment. The Mg level of the patients before the procedure will be scanned in the hospital system and those that can be accessed will be recorded.