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. 2013 Oct 29;4(Suppl 5):S404-6.
doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.120784. eCollection 2013.

A blunt needle (Epimed(®)) does not eliminate the risk of vascular penetration during transforaminal epidural injection

Yashar Ilkhchoui  1 , Eugene Koshkin
Affiliations

A blunt needle (Epimed(®)) does not eliminate the risk of vascular penetration during transforaminal epidural injection

Yashar Ilkhchoui et al. Surg Neurol Int. .

Abstract

Background: Transforaminal epidural injection of local anesthetics and corticosteroids is a common practice in patients with radicular pain. However, serious morbidity has also been reported, which can be attributed to an arterial or venous injection of the medication especially particulate glucocorticoid preparations. Using a blunt needle in contrast to sharp needle has been suggested to reduce this risk in a study on animals.

Case description: We present a 59-year-old female with L5 lumbar radicular symptoms and left L5-S1 foraminal narrowing who underwent transforaminal epidural injection with fluoroscopic guidance using a 22-gauge blunt curved needle (Epimed(®), Johnstown, NY). Intravascular needle placement was detected during real-time contrast injection under live fluoroscopy after a negative aspiration and local anesthetic test dose. The needle was slightly withdrawn and correct distribution of the contrast was confirmed along the target nerve root and into the epidural space.

Conclusion: This case report discusses vascular penetration utilizing an Epimed(®) blunt needle to perform transforaminal injections in a clinical setting. This topic was previously discussed in earlier animal studies. We also reemphasize that neither negative aspiration or local anesthetic test doses are reliable techniques to ensure the safety of transforaminal epidural injections.

Keywords: Blunt needle; fluoroscopy; intravascular penetration; radicular pain; transforaminal epidural injection.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sagittal T1 weighted image demonstrating L5-S1 foraminal stenosis (Arrow)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intravascular flow pattern (arrow) detected by fluoroscopy
Figure 3
Figure 3
Appropriate distribution of contrast media along target nerve root and epidural space after needle was repositioned
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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