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Spinal epidural injections may increase risk of infection
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In the results of a recently published study, researchers reported findings that demonstrated a link between the receipt of spinal epidural steroid injections and an increased risk of infection.
The study included a 58-year-old male patient who received a spinal epidural injection for the management of low back pain due to L5-S1 disc herniation and a cervicothoracolumbosacral spinal subdural abscess about a month after the treatment.
The rare abscess was not evident after an initial MRI but became evident 5 days later after additional imaging was taken. To the researchers’ knowledge, this was only the second spinal subdural abscess (SSA) following an epidural steroid injection, and only the third report of an SSA following any kind of epidural injection. The patient was successfully treated for the infection with surgical management and antibiotic treatments.
The researchers analyzed former patients with SSA and found a history of disc herniations or other spinal abnormalities may also increase patients’ risk of developing an SSA.
According to the researchers, patients undergoing spinal epidural injections with previous disc herniation or spinal abnormalities should be made aware of their increased risk of developing an SSA after undergoing a spinal injection for low back pain. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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