ASSESSMENT: USE OF EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS TO TREAT RADICULAR LUMBOSACRAL PAIN: REPORT OF THE THERAPEUTICS AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY

Included studies used self report and questionnaires for measuring primary (leg pain) and secondary (back pain) outcomes. Some studies also used the straight leg raising test or a visual analogue scale to measure leg and/or back pain. Most studies compared varying doses of methylprednisolone acetate plus procaine, isotonic saline or bupivacaine with active controls (including saline with or without procaine) with or without fluoroscopy guidance. Included studies also reported clinical differences between treatment groups in terms of the proportion of patients undergoing surgery.