Correlation between epidural space depth measured with ultrasound and MRI compared to clinical loss of resistance when performing lumbar epidural steroid injection
Authors' conclusion
MRI measurements are preferable over US for preprocedural assessment of patients receiving lumbar ESIs for predicting CLORD.
Study context
- Population
- Patients receiving fluoroscopy-guided lumbar epidural steroid injections at an academic chronic pain clinic
- Participants
- 60 patients
- Comparison
- MRI and ultrasound (US) epidural space depth vs clinical loss of resistance depth
- Outcome
- Equivalence of imaging-measured epidural space depth with CLORD (0.5 equivalency margin)
Methodological detailsequivalence testing (two one-sided tests, 0.5 margin)
- Equivalence testing (two one-sided tests, 0.5 margin)
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Difference in epidural space depth vs CLORD
Each group vs CLORDMean difference, cm
MRIequivalent
−0.2(95% CI −0.39 to −0.11)
US transversenot equivalent; underestimated CLORD
−0.98(90% CI −1.8 to −0.77)
- US parasagittal oblique · not equivalent; underestimated clinical loss of resistance depth (CLORD)
- mean difference −0.79 cm (90% CI −1.0 to −5.9)
Further findings
Intraclass correlation coefficient
| Outcome | MRI | US transverse | US parasagittal oblique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intraclass correlation coefficient with CLORDMixed effects models | 0.85 | 0.65 | 0.73 |
Original publication
Correlation between epidural space depth measured with ultrasound and MRI compared to clinical loss of resistance when performing lumbar epidural steroid injection. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 23 January 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →