Effect of Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection on Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection and Dorsal Root Ganglion Pulsed Radiofrequency in Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH) refers to a lumbar disc herniation (LDH) that recurs at the same level, location, and side following surgical repair. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TESI) and dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency (DRG PRF) therapy with and without caudal epidural steroid injection (CESI) for the treatment of lumbar radicular pain (LRP) associated with RLDH. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 57 patients treated for RLDH in a hospital pain clinic between September 2022 and February 2024. A total of 27 patients received TESI and DRG PRF therapy (Group 1) and 30 patients received TESI, DRG PRF, and CESI therapy (Group 2). We evaluated patient age, sex, symptom duration, pain medication use, number of prior LDH operations, presence of stabilization on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), intervention received, lumbar level and side of the intervention, and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores before and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-procedure. Treatment success was defined as an NRS score at least 50% or 4 points lower than the pre-procedure score at post-procedure 6 months. Results: There was no significant difference in NRS scores between the groups during the 6-month follow-up period. Moreover, NRS scores did not differ based on the presence of stabilization on MRI or the use of pain medication (p > 0.05). Conclusions: TESI and DRG PRF therapy were effective in the treatment of LRP associated with RLDH over a 6-month follow-up period, and adding CESI did not increase treatment success.