OUTCOME FROM EPIDURAL INJECTION AS A PREDICTOR FOR SUCCESS FROM SURGICAL INTERVENTION IN THE TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SPINAL STENOSIS

BackgroundEpidural steroid injections can provide temporary relief of symptoms in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. Surgery is indicated when conservative measures fail. We hypothesise that patients who gain temporary relief of symptoms from the administration of epidural steroid injections are more likely to result in an improvement in symptoms following surgical intervention compared to patients who do not respond to injection therapy.MethodThe records of patients who had received both an epidural injection and surgical intervention for lumbar spinal stenosis between July 2008 and July 2010 were identified and retrospectively reviewed. Relief of symptoms following epidural injection was noted at 6 weeks post procedure and the patients symptoms following surgical intervention was noted and classified according to MacNab's criteria at 3 months post-surgery.Results60 patients who received both an epidural injection and surgical intervention for lumbar spinal stenosis were identified. 76% of patients...