P019: COMPARATIVE OUTCOMES OF CERVICAL CATHETER AND NON-CATHETER EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS: AN EXAMINATION OF CLINICAL APPLICATIONS AND REVIEW OF OUTCOMES
Helena Krogman; Sharukh Bengali, MD; Aksana Aliakseyeva, MD; Bryan Stevens, MD; Sanjeev Kumar, MD
University of Florida
Cervical epidural steroid injections (CESI) via a standard C7-T1 interlaminar approach are widely used to manage cervical stenosis, providing significant symptom relief for many patients. However, in cases where more cephalad, localized neural impingement are the nidus there are limitations to the effectiveness of the standard approach. Epidural catheter advancement may offer a way to deliver medication more precisely to the affected nerve root, potentially enhancing patient pain cessation. This retrospective study sought to evaluate the potential benefits of catheter-guided CESI compared to the standard technique. By reviewing patient records and stratifying cases based on catheter use and prior cervical surgery, we aimed to assess whether targeted delivery improved relief. Both catheter-guided and standard CESI appear to be highly effective treatments, with a majority of patients experiencing at least 50% pain relief. Among patients without prior cervical surgery, catheter-guided CESI resulted in an average pain relief of 68.3%, compared to 61.8% with the standard approach; These findings suggest a promising trend toward improved symptom relief with targeted therapy, especially in post-surgical patients. The potential advantages of catheter placement include greater precision in medication delivery, which may be particularly beneficial for patients with focal nerve impingement. Even a modest increase in pain relief could translate to better patient mobility, reduced reliance on additional interventions, and improved quality of life. These findings support the continued investigation of catheter-guided CESI as an approach that may enhance outcomes in select patient populations.