Back pain steroid injections linked to greater risk of spinal fracture

 People with back pain who are given a lumbar epidural steroid injection (LESI) may be at increased risk of spinal fracture, says new research in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

A total of 6,000 people with back problems were followed. Half were given at least one epidural steroid injection while the other half were not. The more steroid injections received, the greater the risk of spinal fracture. Each successive injection was associated with a 21% increase in a fracture risk.

Those at the highest risk were older women, people with a history of fractures, smokers, people who were underweight and those with the osteoporosis.

“As orthopaedic surgeons who specialise in (the) spine, we know there is a role for injection therapy, but the challenge is to make sure it is administered safely and still provide long-term benefits,” says Dr Shlomo Mandel.