
The injectionists were not blinded to the EMG results.No standardized time between symptom onset and EMG testing.No comparison of prior surgical interventions to the lumbar spine.No evaluation of medications taken or changed during the pre- and post-injection ODI.The post-injection VAS scores were improved after the injection, but the difference between the groups was not statistically different.The pre-injection pain scores on the VAS were similar as well.

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Two muscles innervated by 2 nerves from the same spinal cord level needed to be positive.Evidence of denervation or reinnervation on needle EMG.Completion of self-assessment surveys before the interventional spine procedure and at follow-up.Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TF-ESI) performed at L4 and/or L5.EMG completion before the procedure with a diagnosis of an L5 or S1 radiculopathy.Pain level and functional status (using the Oswestry Disability Index – ODI) was filled out before the injection, and at a follow-up visit (and these were kept electronically).Patients who presented to the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Los Angeles between July 1, 2000, and June 30, 2002.Purpose: to determine if objective EMG findings can predict functional benefit after a lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection.

The use of electromyography to predict functional outcome following transforaminal epidural spinal injections for lumbar radiculopathy.ĭepartment of Orthopedics, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90404 Right L4 Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Patients undergoing transforaminal epidural steroid injections show greater functional improvement if they have positive EMG findings of lumbar radiculopathy.
