TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 65. Epidural Steroid Injections A1 - DeSio, John M. A2 - Warfield, Carol A. A2 - Bajwa, Zahid H. PY - 2004 T2 - Principles & Practice of Pain Medicine, 2e AB - The administration of corticosteroids into the epidural space to relieve both acute and chronic pain of spinal origin has been utilized for over 40 years. In 1957 Lievre et al reported the first use of epidural hydrocortisone for the relief of back pain and sciatica.1 Since that time numerous investigators have argued both for and against the efficacy of this technique versus alternative treatment modalities in providing significant lasting relief for patients suffering from low back and leg pain. In 1986 Benzon’s review of the literature on lumbar epidural steroid injections concluded that low back pain of mechanical origin, especially accompanied by signs of nerve root irritation, may respond to epidural steroid injection.2 In 1988 Rosen et al, performed a retrospective analysis of the efficacy of epidural steroid injections, studying 40 patients treated for low back pain and sciatica secondary to spinal stenosis or lumbar herniated disc. They concluded that 50% of the patients with radicular symptoms may receive temporary relief with epidural steroid injection (ESI); long-term relief, however, occurs in less then 25% of patients treated.3 In most studies the principal indications for administering epidural steroid injections included symptoms of low back pain or leg pain alone or in combination with varying selection criteria (e.g., previous surgery, duration of symptoms, patient age). SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=3420078 ER -