Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection in the Treatment of Pain in Foraminal and Paramedian Lumbar Disc Herniations

AIM: To compare the effect of fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural steroid injections on radicular pain in foraminal and paramedian lumbar disc herniations. MATERIAL and METHODS: This study included patients who did not benefit from previous medical treatments or are not suitable for surgery. Transforaminal epidural steroid injections for the treatment of foraminal and paramedian lumbar disc herniation were performed in 370 and 1262 patients, respectively. Every group's preprocedural visual analogue scale (VAS) and 12-week postprocedural VAS scores were recorded, and statistical analysis was performed. The complications noted were also recorded. RESULTS: The preprocedural and postprocedural mean VAS scores for radicular pain in foraminal disc herniation were 67.11 +/- 4.28 and 34.78 +/- 3.64, respectively. However, the preprocedural and postprocedural mean VAS scores in paramedian disc herniation were 62.16 +/- 6.65 and 19.07 +/- 4.50, respectively. Statistical analysis of the varying preprocedural and postprocedural VAS scores showed that transforaminal epidural steroid injections were more effective for paramedian disc herniation than for foraminal disc herniation (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Transforaminal epidural steroid injections were more effective for paramedian lumbar disc herniation than for foraminal disc herniation, 12 weeks after the procedure.