Epidural Injection Technologies (CPB 0934, reviewed 2025-04-08)
Summary
As last reviewed on April 8, 2025, Aetna considers epidural blood patching medically necessary for post-dural puncture headache lasting longer than 24 hours, and for spontaneous intracranial hypotension with orthostatic headache lasting more than 2 weeks when brain MRI shows dural enhancement or spinal imaging shows epidural CSF collection or a CSF leak site. Repeat patching is covered when the first patch does not give prolonged relief and additional spinal imaging identifies a CSF leak site, and transforaminal patching is covered for post-dural puncture headache when the interlaminar approach was ineffective. Prophylactic patching, patching for post-dural puncture tinnitus, epidural fibrin glue or platelet-rich plasma patching for post-dural puncture headache, and real-time pressure-sensing epidural guidance are experimental, investigational or unproven.
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