Lateral decubitus positioning for cervical nerve root block using CT image guidance minimizes effective radiation dose and procedural time.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Cervical steroid injections are a minimally invasive means of providing pain relief to patients with cervical radiculopathy. CT guidance offers many potential advantages. We developed a technique with the patient in the lateral position with a lateral needle trajectory to minimize the required needle depth from skin to target and a near-vertical needle trajectory. The aim of this study was to analyze the cohort for complications, procedural time, and effective radiation dose.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective evaluation of a single-center patient cohort. PACS images from the procedures were reviewed for needle depth, procedural time, and CTDI(vol). An anatomically relevant conversion factor was used to calculate the effective dose.

Resu

SUBMITTER: Miller TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7966312 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature