When spinal injections are performed, a needle is placed in or around the spine making the risk of complications unavoidable. Spinal structures or adjacent organs are at risk for direct needle trauma, infection, hematoma, hemorrhage, nerve dam-age, stroke, allergic reaction, or spinal anesthesia with cardiorespiratory arrest. As a result, physician knowledge and patient preparation and monitoring are critical in maximizing patient safety during the procedure being performed. This review de-scribes complications that may result from commonly performed spinal injections and their treatment.
The objective of this paper is to review the literature of cervical transforaminal injections, resulting complications, and to suggest a safe technique.Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed. Both the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for any article relating to cervical epidural injections, cervical transforaminal injections, and complications relating to cervical epidural or cervical transforaminal injections. Finally, a method for performing a cervical transforaminal injection safely is described.
Conclusions:The review of the literature reavealed:1. There is a paucity of literature regarding cervical transforaminal injections; 2. There is no accepted standard tech-nique for performing cervical transforaminal injections; and 3. More research and study must be performed regarding the risk versus benefit, technique, and outcome of cervical transforaminal injections.
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