Impact of transforaminal epidural steroid injection on pain, disability, and kinesiophobia in lumbar disc herniation with radicular pain
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, cilt.56, sa.3, ss.698-707, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 56 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.55730/1300-0144.6203
- Dergi Adı: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.698-707
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Lumbar epidural injections, kinesiophobia, radicular pain
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background/aim: The aim was to evaluate the effect of single-level transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) on kinesiophobia (KP) in patients with lumbar radicular pain (RP) caused by single-root, single-level lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Materials and methods: A total of 63 patients diagnosed with unilateral single-level radicular pain due to LDH and treated with single-level TFESI were included. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), and Neuropathic pain (NP)-Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questionnaire (DN4) were used before the procedure and at 3 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. Results: At baseline, 76.19% (n = 48) of the patients exhibited KP. Significant improvements were observed in the NRS, TSK, MODI, and DN4 scores at both 3 weeks and 3 months (p < 0.001). Clinical outcomes were similar between the patients with and without KP, except for DN4 scores, which remained significantly higher in the KP group. A ≥50% reduction in the TSK score at the 3-month follow-up was positively correlated with ≥50% improvements in the NRS, MODI, and DN4 scores. Additionally, a longer symptom duration was negatively associated with the degree of improvement in the TSK. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that TFESI is an effective and safe method for alleviating pain and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic radicular pain due to LDH. Clinicians should be aware that a prolonged duration of symptoms is a risk factor that negatively influences the effectiveness of TFESI in cases of KP.