Cervical epidural puncture guided by fluoroscopy in comparison to acoustic signals: Clinical results

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The increasing cases of the cervical epidural but the practitioners in need for a new method to decrease the safety of the injection and to improve the learning curve of the trainee. Furthermore, it should replace the potentially hazards, conventional one, which is the fluoroscope. Acoustic signals were tested for this purpose. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were assigned to have a cervical epidural for pain management using both acoustic signals and fluoroscopy simultaneously. RESULTS: The incidence of success was 100% with no complications. Likewise, the decrease in fluoroscopy shots number was 70%. CONCLUSIONS: Acoustic signals are a simple, effective method of cervical epidural insertion. It reduces the usage of fluoroscopy and can be used as a learning tool.