Comparing Three Epidural Steroid Injection Approaches for Lumbar Radicular Pain
Summary
This study will compare three fluoroscopy-guided epidural steroid injection approaches for adults with unilateral lumbosacral radicular pain caused by lumbar disc herniation. The study will evaluate whether the pattern of contrast spread in the epidural space predicts meaningful pain relief. Ninety-nine participants will be randomly assigned in equal numbers to receive one of three treatments: high-volume parasagittal interlaminar injection, low-volume parasagittal interlaminar injection, or transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Participants will not be told which injection approach they receive. Pain and disability will be assessed before treatment and at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after injection. The main outcome is the proportion of participants with clinically meaningful improvement in pain at 3 months.
Timeline
- Start
- 2026-10
- Primary completion
- 2027-11
- Completion
- 2028-02
Drugs
| Evaluation | Drug | Modality | Dose | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Betamethasone | Other / unclassified | 7.2 mg | Other |
| Subject | Betamethasone | Other / unclassified | 16.8 mg | Other |
| Subject | Betamethasone | Other / unclassified | 24 mg | Other |
| Subject | Bupivacaine | Other / unclassified | 6 mg | Other |
| Subject | Bupivacaine | Other / unclassified | 14 mg | Other |
| Subject | Bupivacaine | Other / unclassified | 20 mg | Other |