A Comparison of Intravascular Injection With Chiba Needle and Whitacre Needle
A Comparison of Intravascular Injection With Chiba Needle and Whitacre Needle
Caudal epidural injection (CEI) is effective for spinal pain. However, intravascular
 injection may occur during CEI, which can lead to hematoma, neurologic deficit and local
 anesthetics systemic toxicity. Whitacre type needle has been reported to be effective for
 reducing intravascular injection during transforaminal epidural injection. In this study, we
 compared the Chiba needle and Whitacre needle on incidence of intravascular injection during
 CEI.
A total of 164 caudal epidural injections were performed in patients with disc herniation or
 spinal stenosis on lumbosacral region. Patients were randomly allocated to Group Whitacre
 (n=82) and Group Chiba (n=82). Patients in Group Whitacre received caudal epidural injection
 using Whitacre type needle and those in Group Chiba received the procedure using Chiba type
 needle. Intravascular injection was assessed with blood aspiration and angiography during
 real-time fluoroscopy.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  patients with low back pain and/or leg radicular pain under diagnoses as disc
 herniation or spinal stenosis

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  allergy to local anesthetics or contrast medium, coagulopathy, local infection at the
 injection site, and systemic infection