TITLE:
Fluoroscopic Guided Epidural versus Cervical Facet Injection for Patients with Chronic Cervical Axial Pain in Terms of Visual Analogue Score and Neck Pain Disability Index
AUTHORS:
Ahmed Hosameldin, Atef Mohamed Mahmoud, Joseph Makram Botros, Maged Labib Boules, Ramy Naguib Mohamed, Safaa Gaber Ragab, Mostafa M. Ali Abdel-Latif, Ashraf A. M. Osman, Mohamed Abouelsoud, Mohammed Hussein Aly
KEYWORDS:
Facet Joint, Cervical, Injections, Epidural, Radiculopathy, Axial Neck Pain
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery,
Vol.16 No.1,
December
8,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Facet injections entail the administration of a steroid medication into the facet joints of the spine to alleviate inflammation and pain. This procedure is generally performed with the assistance of X-ray guidance. Conversely, epidural injections are minimally invasive procedures that involve the injection of a steroid medication into the epidural space of the spine. Both procedures are regarded as safe and effective treatments for chronic cervical pain, although there is no definitive consensus on which is more efficacious. Methods: Prospective randomized clinical trial. The sample size was estimated by performing a pilot study and the patients of the pilot study were not included. Group P was assigned to the individuals who would have cervical epidural injection, while Group F would receive a facet injection. Results: We evaluated pain using the VAS/PI scores and found no significant differences between the two groups at various follow-up intervals. Nevertheless, each intervention resulted in a significant improvement from baseline, with P Conclusion: The epidural and facet injections significantly improved VAS scores and NDI from the baseline. However, in comparing both groups, there was no significant difference in the efficacy and safety profiles.