Preoperative epidural steroid injections are not associated with increased rates of infection and dural tear in lumbar spine surgery.
Jayme C B KoltsovMatthew W SmuckTodd F AlaminKirkham B WoodIvan ChengSerena S HuPublished in: European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society (2020)
Half of patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery for stenosis and/or herniation had a preoperative ESI. These were not associated with an increased risk for postoperative complications, even when the ESI was given in close proximity to surgery. Patients with preoperative ESI were more likely to have readmissions and reoperations following surgery.