Effectiveness of transforaminal steroid injections in spinal canal stenosis grade 1 to 3

Introduction: Transforaminal injections have been associated with rare but major complications. Despite several studies on epidural steroid injection as a minimally invasive non-surgical method to relieve the pain of spinal canal stenosis, there is no consensus about some details. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of transforaminal steroid injection on patients with grade 1 to 3 spinal canal stenosis. Method: The present randomized controlled trial study examined 110 patients with spinal canal stenosis. The case group (A) included 55 patients injected with bupivacaine solution and dexamethasone. The control group (B) consisted of 55 patients without intervention. The patients were examined before injection, two weeks, three and six months, and one year after the treatment using the disability index (ODI), functional status (FRI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Numeric Rate Scale (NRS). Results: According to the results, transforaminal steroid injection for patients with grades 1 and 2 spinal canal stenosis had a suitable effect on reducing the severity of disability and improving functional status; however, the pain relief process was achieved gradually in them. In patients with grade 3 canal stenosis, pain relief was observed after 6 months of injection; however, improvement of functional status and reduction of disability did not follow proper trends. Conclusion: Transforaminal steroid injection has a better effect on improving the performance and ability of the patient, but its effect on reducing pain requires more time.