Cervical radiculopathy is a disease involving dysfunction of one or more nerve roots in the cervical spine that typically manifests as pain radiating from the neck into the distribution of the affected nerve root. It can be accompanied by sensory, motor, or reflex disturbances. Any condition that somehow compresses or irritates a cervical nerve root can cause cervical radiculopathy. The most common causes are foraminal narrowing, spinal canal stenosis and cervical disc herniation. These conditions can be treated by injection of a local anaesthetic and steroid under X-ray guidance into the epidural space in the lower cervical spine via the interlaminar space. Because of its relative complexity, the cervical epidural steroid injection is applied only in severe cases, particularly if surgical decompression is being considered.
References
- Theodoridis T., Kraemer J.: Injektionstherapie an der Wirbelsäule. Manual und Atlas. 3. Auflage. Thieme 2017.
- Bogduk N.: Practice Guidelines for Spinal Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures. 2. Edition. International Spine Intervention Society 2013.
