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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

Complications of injections in conservative treatment of degenerative spine disease: a prospective unicentric study

Authors: Anna Voelker, Markus Pirlich, Christoph-Eckhard Heyde

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

Spinal injection has been an accepted part of conservative therapy for degenerative diseases. The drugs used can cause side effects and severe complications. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of general side effects (GSE) and complications when performing consecutive different types of spinal injections and to evaluate pain reduction.

Methods

Prospective data evaluation of patients with degenerative spine disease at hospital admission, discharge, and six and 12 weeks after discharge. All patients received a specific injection protocol depending on their symptoms and radiological findings. The injections performed were dorsal sacroiliac joint injections, perineural injections, epidural interlaminar and epidural periradicular injections, and facet joint injections. Potential complications were categorized and recorded as GSE and complications. In addition, the Numerical Analog Scale (NAS) for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were evaluated.

Results

Forty-eight patients were enrolled. There were 282 spinal injections performed. A total of 131 common treatment-related events were recorded. Depending on the type of injection, transient pain at the injection site (32.4–73.5%), radiating pain (9.4–34.7%), and nerve root irritation (2–18.4%) were the most common. One complication with postpuncture syndrome occurred with epidural-interlaminar injection. No persistent neurologic deficits occurred. The highest rate of GSE was observed with periradicular injections (relative frequency (RF) = 0.8), followed by epidural-interlaminar injections (RF = 0.65), least frequently with FJ injections (RF = 0.32). From the time of admission to discharge, NAS scores were significantly decreased and ODI score significantly improved at discharge (p < 0.001), but relapse occurred at the 12-week follow-up.

Conclusions

Various consecutive spinal injections for conservative treatment of degenerative spine diseases are safe and lead to a decrease in pain and improvement in quality of life. GSE are common, but not persistent. Although complications are rare, they can have serious consequences for the patient.

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Title: Complications of injections in conservative treatment of degenerative spine disease: a prospective unicentric study
Authors: Anna Voelker
Markus Pirlich
Christoph-Eckhard Heyde
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05970-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Complications of injections in conservative treatment of degenerative spine disease: a prospective unicentric study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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