# Comparing the Efficacy of Transforaminal and Caudal Epidural Injections of Calcitonin in Treating Degenerative Spinal Canal Stenosis: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

## TL;DR

This study compares two injection methods of calcitonin for treating spinal stenosis and finds one more effective for pain relief over six months.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence comparing transforaminal and caudal calcitonin injections for long-term pain management in lumbar spinal stenosis.

## Key findings

- Both injection methods significantly improved pain and mobility in LSS patients over six months.
- Transforaminal injections showed significantly greater pain reduction compared to caudal injections.
- No significant difference was found between the two methods in improving the ability to stand.

## Abstract

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the most common indication for lumbar surgery in elderly patients. Epidural injections of calcitonin are effective in managing LSS.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of transforaminal and caudal injections of calcitonin in patients with LSS.

In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, LSS patients were divided into two equal groups (N = 20). The first group received 50 IU (international units) of calcitonin via caudal epidural injection (CEI), and the second group received 50 IU of calcitonin via transforaminal epidural injection (TEI). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI) were used to assess the patient's pain and ability to stand, respectively. Visual Analogue Scale and ODI scores were recorded and analyzed.

The results showed that caudal and TEIs of calcitonin significantly improved pain and ability to stand during follow-up compared to before intervention (P < 0.05). Additionally, CEI of calcitonin after 6 months significantly reduced pain in LSS patients compared to TEI of calcitonin (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between the two epidural injection techniques in improving the patient's ability to stand (P > 0.05).

The results of the study indicate that epidural injection of calcitonin in long-term follow-up (6 months) had a significant effect on improving pain intensity and mobility in patients with LSS, and its effect on pain in the TEI method was significantly greater than that in the CEI method.