Transforamial Epidural Steroid Injection

Whenever a disc herniates it causes two types of pain. The ruptured disc causes back pain and the herniated part causes radicular pain which might be due to
a) Mechanical pressure
b) Nerve inflammation
By injecting steroid around the nerve roots, we attempt to reduce the nerve inflammation.

Procedure

This is done in well fledged OT. Patient is made to lie on the tummy on the OT table. Markings are done under the C- ARM guidance for the respective foramen using a skin marker. The back is painted with betadine and draped. A local anaesthetic is infiltrated into the skin. A long spinal needle is inserted under the C- ARM guidance. Once the needle is in the foramina, the steroid with local anaesthetic is injected.

Post Procedure

Patient is usually kept in observation for 2 hours and then sent home. It’s a DAY CARE PROCEDURE.

Patient will feel some amount of numbness in the affected leg and sometimes pain in the injected site.

Rarely complications may occur including infection, allergic reactions (anaphylaxis-that may occur with any injection).