Comparing the clinical efficacy of preganglionic and preganglionic plus ganglionic transforaminal epidural steroid injections for lumbosacral radicular pain

Article Figures & Data

Table 1

- Demographic and clinical features of the patients according to group.

	Preganglionic group (n=31)	Preganglionic and postganglionic group (n=35)	P-value
	Mean±standard deviation		P-value
Age(years)	45.42±13.51	45.66±12.20	.940^{^a}
Gender (n/%)
Female	16(51.6)	22(62.9)	.356^{^b}
Male	15(4.4)	13(37.1)	.356^{^b}
Side of pain (n/%)
Right	18(58.1)	13(37.1)	.089^{^b}
Left	13(41.9)	22(62.9)	.089^{^b}
Disc level (n/%)
L3–4	5(16.1)	2(5.7)	.248^{^b}
L4–5	15(39.5)	23(65.7)
L5–S1	11(35.5)	10(28.6)
Duration of pain (weeks)	15.78±13.58	16.91±12.89	.728^{^a}
NRS – pretreatment	7.90±1.16	8.06±0.99	.565^{^a}
NRS – third week	4.45±2.74	3.29±2.17	.059^{^a}
PSS – third week	2.26±1.36	2.69±1.40	.216^{^a}
NRS – third month	4.55±2.60	4.23±2.54	.616^{^a}
PSS – thirdmonth	2.03±1.49	2.31±1.53	.453^{^a}

NRS =numeric rating scale; PSS=patient satisfaction scale

Table 2

- Comparison of groups in terms of PSS scores over time

	Preganglionic group (n=31)	Preganglionic plus ganglionic group (n=35)	P-value^*
PSS	N/%
At third week
Poor	3 (9.7)	3 (8.6)	0.352
Fair	8 (25.8)	5 (14.3)
Good	6 (19.4)	8 (22.9)
Very good	6 (19.4)	3 (8.6)
Excellent	8 (11.3)	16 (45.7)
At third month
Poor	7 (6.1)	6 (17.1)	0.671
Fair	5 (5.6)	7 (20.0)
Good	6 (19.4)	3 (8.6)
Very good	6 (19.4)	8 (22.9)
Excellent	7 (22.6)	11 (31.4)

Table 3

- Correlation analysis for variables associated with meaningful pain relief.

Variables	Meaningful pain relief at third week	Meaningful pain relief at third month
Age
Rho	-.131	-.278
P	.296	.024^*
Gender
Rho	.281	.256
P	.022^*	.038^*
Pain duration prior to treatment
Rho	-.120	-.203
P	.337	.102
Disc lesion level
Rho	0.47	.045
P	.708	.721
Preganglionic or preganglionic plus ganglionic group
Rho	.180	.071
P	.147	.573