Evaluation of functional outcome of epidural steroid injection in lumbar canal stenosis

Background: Low back ache is common complaint noted in orthopaedic OPDs. Low back pain accompanied by lumbosacral radiculopathy continues to be one of the most challenging musculoskeletal conditions to manage therapeutically, Stenosis manifests with two types of symptoms: neurogenic claudication, which may be unilateral or bilateral, and radiculopathy. The Management of Lumbar canal stenosis (LCS) is most debatable. Epidural injection by using steroid is commonly used treatment options used for chronic lower back pain. The present study evaluates the outcomes of Epidural steroid injection (ESI) in LCS and analyzes their effects on various outcome measures. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 50 patients diagnosed with LCS. The study was carried out in the Department of Orthopeadics at SBKS Medical Institute & Research Centre Piparia, Vadodara over a three-year period, March-2019 to March 2021. Patients underwent ESI and were followed up for clinical outcomes. Results: In this study, the 51–60 years age group was most commonly affected, with a predominance of female patients. The L4–L5 levels were most commonly affected, with the majority of patients having a spinal canal diameter between 7–11 mm. The final results showed that 88% of patients had an excellent outcome, while 12% had a fair outcome. Conclusions: ESI is a safe, cost-effective, and minimally invasive treatment for patients with subacute or chronic low back pain with radiculopathy, reducing the need for analgesics and facilitating an early return to work.