Inclusion and exclusion criteria for patient selection.
| Inclusion Criteria | Exclusion Criteria |
| Age (21–65 y) | History of significant spine trauma |
| Pathology of the lumbar spine | Spine tumor/infection |
| Single-level disc herniation | Lumbar arthrodesis surgery |
| Follow-up ≥6 mo | Revision surgery |
| Operated by minimally invasive approach | Concomitant cervical/dorsal spine pathology |
| Willingness to participate in the study | Spondyloarthropathies |
| Epidural steroid injection by only transforaminal approach | Epidural steroid injection by either caudal or interlaminar approach or a combination of approaches |