Materials and Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 101 older adults who received epidural steroid injections. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their body mass index: normal weight (<25 kg/m²), overweight (25?29.9 kg/m²), or obese (?30 kg/m²). Pain scores were documented before the procedure, one hour after the procedure, and one month after the procedure.
Results: The average age of the participants was 73.95 years (range: 65?89 years), and the mean body mass index was 29.44 ± 4.75 kg/m². The mean preprocedural numeric rating scale score was 8.17 ± 1.21. Average pain scores at one hour (0.66) and one month (4.32) following the procedure were significantly lower than the pre-procedural scores (P < 0.001). Radiation time (P = 0.044) and radiation dose (P = 0.047) were significantly higher in the obese group. Nevertheless, no significant differences were observed between the groups concerning gender, age, symptom duration, procedure type, complications, pain scores, or treatment success.
Conclusions: Obesity does not adversely affect the treatment outcomes of epidural injections in older adults. Epidural steroid injections can be safely administered to obese elderly patients with a low complication rate.
Keywords : Aged; Low Back Pain; Injection, Epidural; Obesity; Body Mass Index