Med Student Medical News about Lumbar radiculopathy; epidural steroid injections

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Lumbar radiculopathy. Epidural injection of steroid and pain medication versus placebo
Evidence-Based Spine Surgery, 09/10/09

Epidural steroid injections for treatment of sciatica did not confer significant additional benefit over placebo injection in patients who had had symptoms for less than one year. While steroid injections may afford short–term improvements in pain and movement, this beneficial effect was transient, and there was no statistical difference between active and placebo treatments after 4 weeks of follow–up. Treatment of sciatica with epidural steroids has exhibited no significant functional benefit, nor does it reduce the need for surgery. Outcomes varied minimally by injection site across studies, not based on direct comparisons.