Here are three things to know:
1. In this randomized controlled trial of 400 patients aged 50 and older, patients were assigned to a 1- to 3-ml epidural corticosteroid injection plus 0.25 percent to 1 percent lidocaine or lidocaine alone.
2. At 12 months, the groups did not differ in terms of change in disability or pain intensity scores from baseline.
3. In a corresponding editorial, Nitin B. Jain, MD, of Nashville-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center, claimed corticosteroid spinal injections could have a role in clinical practice even if they do not lead to better outcomes at 12 months if they can provide better symptomatic relief at six weeks.
More articles on spine:
Neurosurgeon Dr. John Cummings in The Leading Physicians of the World: 5 highlights
8 things for spine surgeons to know for Thursday — June 14, 2018
For spine surgery bundled payments, does physician variation matter? 5 key findings
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