The impact of vitamin D deficiency on treatment success of cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: Our aim is to investigate the effect of vitamin D deficiency on treatment success of cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ILESI) in patients with cervical disc herniation-related chronic radiculopathy. Patients and Methods: Fifty patients who had neck and unilateral extremity pain and received cervical ILESI were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to their serum 25 (OH) D levels as Group 1 (>20 ng/mL) and Group 2 (<20 ng/ mL). Clinical and demographic data, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, pre-procedural laboratory tests, and pain scores were recorded. The patients were assessed before procedure and at three and six months after procedure. Results: Mean serum 25(OH)D level was 29.49±10.9 in Group 1 and 12.06±3.49 in Group 2, indicating a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). A significant improvement in pain scores was observed in both groups at six months of follow-up (p<0.001). Treatment success rates were significantly lower in vitamin D-deficient group at three months (p=0.024), while there was no significant difference between the groups at six months. Conclusions: Vitamin D level is a factor affecting short-term treatment success in patients undergoing cervical ILESI.

Keywords

• Vitamin D deficiency
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Neck pain
• Epidural injection

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