What are the risks of back injections?
The risks of spinal injections include, but are not limited to: Bleeding. Infection. Nerve injury….These include people with:
- Skin infection at the site of needle puncture.
- Bleeding disorder or anticoagulation.
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Allergy to contrast, anesthetics, or steroids.
Is retrodiscal technique superior in efficacy to traditional subpedicular technique?
… At this point in time, it remains unclear if the retrodiscal or traditional subpedicular technique is superior in efficacy. Two small trials have investigated this issue without demonstrating any significant clinical difference between the two approaches.
Is the L5-S1 retrodiscal approach better than the infrapedicle approach?
… The researchers have concluded that the epidural block by L5-S1 retrodiscal (RD) approach can reduce the stimulation to the nerve root during the procedure compared to the infrapedicle approach. This is a helpful method especially when the disc sequestrum is stuck in the medial intervertebral foramen or when spinal stenosis is severe. 10
What type of tissue is the retrodiscal tissue?
The articular disc is attached posteriorly to a region of loose connective tissue that is highly vascularized and well innervated, known as the retrodiscal tissue. Superiorly, the retrodiscal tissue is bordered by a lamina of connective tissue that contains many elastic fibers, the superior retrodiscal lamina.
What are the risks of using the retrodiscal needle tip technique?
Although this technique may place the needle in a position with less likelihood of radiculomedullary intra-arterial cannulation, there may be other risks associated with this needle tip placement. Using the retrodiscal approach, the needle tip may unintentionally be placed too far ventrally and enter the intervertebral disc. Chang et al.