The utilization rate of transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs), an elective diagnostic and therapeutic spinal procedure, has risen dramatically over the past decade. In 2006 alone, greater than 300,000 thoracolumbar TFESIs were performed on Medicare beneficiaries. Despite the purported superiority of the transforaminal route, compared to other modes of epidural injection, TFESIs are associated with potential hazards. The artery of Adamkiewicz (ARM) might enter any mid thoracic, lower thoracic, or lumbar foramen; the exact level, in a specific patient, will be unknown to the proceduralist. The authors propose that the ‘safe triangle’ approach to transforaminal epidural injections is not safe (TFESIs). Injury to the ARM can lead to paraplegia, independent of operator skill or adjuvant safety initiatives (digital subtraction angiography, local anesthetic test dose). Injury to the ARM is a ‘black swan’ event. The authors believe that catastrophic injury may be averted when performing TFESIs by avoiding the ‘un-safe,’ superoanterior triangle in the foramen and that transforaminal injections should be performed at the inferior aspect of the foramen, known as Kambin’s triangle
Keywords : administration & dosage,adverse effects,Aged,80 and over,analysis,anatomy & histology,Arm,Arteries,blood supply,drug effects,etiology,Female,Humans,Injections,Injections,Epidural,injuries,Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Medicare,methods,Middle Aged,Pain,Palliative Care,Paraplegia,Safety,Spinal Cord Injuries,Spinal Nerve Roots,Spine,Steroids,, Cause,Analysis,Paraplegia,Following, norwich pain clinic
Date of Publication : 2010 May
Authors : Glaser SE;Shah RV;
Organisation : Pain Specialists of Greater Chicago, Burr Ridge, IL 60527, USA. sglaser@painchicago.com
Journal of Publication : Pain Physician
Pubmed Link : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20495587
The London Spine Unit : Harley Street UK. Specialists in Cutting Edge Technologies for Spinal Surgery
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