Correlation of objective measure of trunk motion and muscle function with low-back disability ratings

A study was undertaken to examine relations among some objective and subjective measures of low-back-related disability in a group of 41 low-back pain patients and in seven pain-free control subjects. Subjective measures of disability were obtained by Oswestry patient questionnaires. Oswestry disability score related significantly (P less than 0.001) to presence or absence of relaxation in back muscles during flexion. Mean trunk strength ratios were inversely related to disability score (P less than .05), and trunk mobility was meaningfully reduced (P less than .01). Despite loss of motion, a large enough excursion was observed to predict presence of back muscle relaxation. These findings imply that myoelectric signal levels, trunk strength ratios, and ranges of trunk motion may be used as objective indicators of low-back pain disability.     

Conservative treatment of acute low-back pain. A prospective randomized trial: McKenzie method of treatment versus patient education in "mini back school"

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the McKenzie method of treatment with patient education in "mini back school" in patients with acute low-back pain. The study included 100 patients, 23 women and 77 men with the average age 34.4 +/- 9.7 (range 18-61) years. The study included only those who were employed. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups, one group receiving treatment according to the McKenzie technique and the other group receiving education in a "mini back school." Assessments were made after 3 weeks by an independent observer and after 52 weeks they were seen by one of the authors. Patients were assessed on seven variables: return to work, sick-leave during the initial episode, sick-leave during recurrences, recurrences of pain during the year of observation, patients' ability to self-help, pain and movement. Although the effect of attention placebo cannot be ruled out, the results demonstrated that the McKenzie method of treatment for patients with acute low-back pain was superior for five out of seven variables studied. The only variables that did not show any statistically significant differences were sick-leave during recurring episodes of pain and patients' ability to self-help.     

Success of lumbar microdiscectomy in patients with modic changes and low-back pain: a prospective pilot study

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case controlled. OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome after microdiscectomy in patients with disc herniation, concordant sciatica, and low-back pain with Modic I and II degenerative changes compared with similar patients without Modic changes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The decision to perform a microdiscectomy versus a fusion or total disc replacement in a patient with a disc herniation and sciatica may be confounded by the presence of low-back pain, degenerative disc disease, and marrow and endplate (Modic) changes. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients underwent a microdiscectomy by a single surgeon. Group 1 consisted of 15 patients, 6 men and 9 women, with a mean age of 36.7 years (range, 21 to 48 y), with Modic I and II changes. Group 2 contained 15 patients, 9 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 34.1 years (range, 20 to 68 y), without Modic changes. The average duration of low-back pain before surgery was 25.6 months (range 4 to 120 mo) in group 1 and 17.5 months (range 5 to 120 mo) in group 2. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to grade low-back pain and the Oswestry score was used to grade overall disability. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative sciatica, low-back pain, VAS or Oswestry scores for group 1 versus group 2 patients. Postoperatively, all patents had improved sciatica and resolution of any nerve tension sign. Eighty-six percent of patients in group 1 versus 93% of patients in group 2 had improvements in postoperative VAS score for low-back pain at 6 months. Average improvement within each group was 67% and 75%, respectively. VAS scores for low-back pain at 6 months improved from 6.9 to 2.3 (P=0.0005) in group 1 and 6.3 to 1.6 (P=0.0002) in group 2. Group 1 and 2 had 89% and 100% of patients show improvement in postoperative Oswestry score at 6 months with an average improvement of 58% and 84%, respectively. Oswestry scores at 6 months improved from 68.7% to 28.8% (P=0.0007) in group 1 and 61.2% to 9.9% (P=0.00003) in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: There was a trend toward greater improvement in Oswestry scores in patients without Modic changes (P=0.09). Both groups reported statistically significant improvement in sciatica, low-back pain, and disability after microdiscectomy. Microdiscectomy was therefore an effective treatment for disc herniation and concordant sciatica despite low-back pain and Modic I and II degenerative changes. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.     

Centralization phenomenon as a prognostic factor for chronic low back pain and disability

STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred twenty-three consecutive adults with acute low back pain with or without referred spinal symptoms were treated conservatively and followed prospectively for 1 year. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the predictive value of centralization phenomenon (CP) with psychosocial variables previously identified as important risk factors for patients with acute onset of nonserious or nonspecific low back pain who subsequently develop chronic pain or disability. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Psychosocial factors have been shown to be predictors of chronic disability, but measures from physical examination rarely predict chronic behavior. The authors of the present study investigated whether dynamic assessment of changes in clinical measures during treatment could be used to classify patients and predict occurrence of chronic pain or disability. METHODS: Patients with acute symptoms and no history of surgery were treated by five physical therapists trained in McKenzie evaluation/treatment methods. Seventy-three percent were receiving workers' compensation benefits. At initial evaluation and discharge, 23 independent variables were assessed representing psychosocial, clinical, and demographic factors. Pain location changes to repeated trunk movements were assessed at every visit. Patients were placed in two groups: 1) those with pain that did not centralize and 2) those who completely centralized or demonstrated partial reduction of pain location with time. Treatment was individualized and based on McKenzie methods. Patients were contacted at 12 months after discharge, and dependent variables of pain intensity, return to work status, sick leave at work, activity interference at home, and continued use of health care were assessed. RESULTS: Nine independent variables influenced pain symptoms or disability. Pain pattern classification (noncentralization) and leg pain at intake were the strongest predictive variables of chronicity. CONCLUSION: Dynamic assessment of change in anatomic pain location during treatment and leg pain at intake were predictors of developing chronic pain and disability.     

Conservative treatment in patients sick-listed for acute low-back pain: a prospective randomised study with 12 months’ follow-up

We evaluated three different conservative treatment methods for acute low-back pain patients in groups following a manual therapy programme, an intensive training programme, or a general practitioner programme, the latter serving as the control group. Patients aged 19–64 years on sick leave for low-back pain with or without sciatica were included in a prospective randomised study evaluating outcomes such as impairment, pain, functional disability, socio-economic disability and satisfaction with the treatment or explanations. Evaluation by unbiased observers was performed at 1, 3 and 12 months. The three treatment groups were comparable at baseline. With regard to satisfaction, the patients in the manual therapy programme and those in the intensive training programme were more satisfied with the treatment than those in the general practitioner programme at all follow-ups. With regard to the explanations of current low-back pain episodes, the patients in the manual therapy programme were more satisfied than those in the general practitioner programme at all follow-ups. The manual therapy programme group were also more satisfied with the explanations than those in the intensive training programme at the 1-month follow-up. However, no differences were revealed between the groups with respect to outcomes on measures of impairment, pain, functional disability or socio-economic disability. All three study groups showed rapid improvement. After 1 month a significant improvement was noted in all outcome values compared with the values on entry to the study. Within the limitations discussed in our study, it is concluded that (1) patients sick listed with acute low-back pain, with or without sciatica, will be significantly improved after 1 month regardless of conservative treatment programme; (2) they will be more satisfied with the treatment if they are referred to a manual treatment programme or a training treatment programme; (3) they will be more satisfied with the explanations of the acute low-back problem if they are referred to one of the above groups, especially the manual treatment group; (4) they will not show any other differences with respect to subjective and objective variables, either at short-term or at long-term follow-ups. Received: 6 October 1997 Revised: 10 March 1998 Accepted: 27 April 1998     

Sense of coherence and outcome of low-back surgery: 5-year follow-up of 80 patients

Eighty adult patients, 33 men and 47 women, mean age 46 years (SD 11.8, range 19–74 years), were evaluated 5 years after lowback surgery. The mean duration of symptoms before operation was 8.7 (SD 7.1) years. The purpose was to evaluate the 5-year outcome of lowback surgery, to find the best predictors for the outcome, and to find out if a correlation exists between the patient's sense of coherence and the outcome of low-back surgery. The mean Oswestry pain index for the whole group of patients improved from 3.8 to 2.7 (P<0.001). The greatest improvement in pain was found in the group aged 35–50 years. In those over 50 years old, pain improved significantly more in women than men. Regarding walking ability, the mean Oswestry gait index for the whole group improved from 3.0 to 1.9 (P<0.001), with men over 50 years old achieving the greatest improvement in their walking. The mean Oswestry total index for the whole group was 41% before surgery, reflecting severe disability, and 25% at follow-up, reflecting moderate disability (P<0.001). There was no difference between the mean values for men and women. Patients who had undergone several previous operations fared less well in the Oswestry total index, though their improvement was still significant (P<0.05). The postoperative Oswestry total index values correlated significantly with the sense of coherence (SOC) scale values (r=-0.23, P<0.05). In all patients, the Oswestry total index before the index operation is suggested to be a predictor of the final outcome. In multiple regression analysis, the number of previous operations and the preoperatively recorded Oswestry total index appeared to be the best predictors for outcome of low-back surgery. We also found that the SOC scale correlated significantly with the Oswestry total index and seems to provide a possible explanation of ability to cope with the disability and pain associated with low-back disorders.     

Surgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis: Patients' postoperative disability and working capacity

Summary A total of 439 patients operated on for lumbar spinal stenosis during the period 1974–1987 was re-examinated and evaluated for working and functional capacity approximately 4 years after the decompressive surgery. The assessment of subjective disability was based on the Oswestry low-back pain questionnaire. The proportion of excellent-to-good outcomes was 62% (women 57%, men 65%). The ability to work before or after the operation and a history of no prior back surgery were variables predictive of a good outcome. Before the operation 86 patients were working, 223 patients were on sick leave, and 130 patients were retired. After the operation 52 of the employed patients and 70 of the unemployed patients returned to work. None of the retired patients returned to work. In logistic regression analysis the ability to work preoperatively, age under 50 years at the time of operation and the absence of prior back surgery predicted a postoperative ability to work. Our results suggest that more attention should be focussed on the diagnosis of spinal stenosis and on the timing of the operative intervention.     

Prognostic factors for recovery from postpartum pelvic girdle pain

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) has a high incidence during pregnancy and in some women pain will persist for years. Most studies have used pain as the outcome measure, and little attention is given to functioning or disability. A better understanding of prognostic factors for recovery seems important for clinical care and treatment. The aim of the present paper was to identify prognostic factors for recovery from postpartum PGP and disability, and to determine the impacts of prognostic factors when pain intensity and disability are used as outcome measures. Seventy-eight women with diagnosed PGP were included 6–16 weeks postpartum. Possible prognostic factors were obtained through clinical tests and questionnaires at baseline. The clinical tests were posterior pelvic pain provocation (P4) test, active straight leg raise (ASLR) test and pain provocation of long dorsal sacroiliac ligament (LDL). One year postpartum outcome measures were obtained by Oswestry disability index (ODI ver 2.0) and worst evening pain (VAS 0–100). Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses were used to identify significant prognostic factors. At baseline 60% believed they would recover and 40% were uncertain or believed they would not recover. Fifty per cent had a history of low back pain (LBP), and 20% had high emotional distress (HSCL25-item ≥1.75). About 75% had positive LDL and P4 at both sides and 24% had pain located to all three pelvic joints. Forty per cent had ASLR scores of at least 4 (sum score range 0–10). Multivariate analyses showed consistently that ASLR and belief in improvement were statistical significant predictors for both disability and pain as outcome measures. ASLR score <4 predicted 10 points lower ODI and 19 points lower evening pain compared with having ASLR score of at least 4. Pain location was a statistical significant predictor in only one analysis. History of LBP or high psychological distress was not prognostic for recovery. ASLR test and belief in improvement are predictors of clinical significance in women having PGP postpartum.     

Low-back pain. Perception and tolerance

The relationship between pain modifying factors, pain duration, and the role of anxiety in low-back pain experience were studied. Three groups of patients with low-back pain were examined using the Tourniquet Pain Test, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Rating Scale of Pain Intensity, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Psychological Discomfort Questionnaire. Significant differences in all measured features emerged between acute and chronic pain groups. Groups of acute and subchronic pain and groups of subchronic and chronic pain differed only in several parameters, suggesting an intermittent phase in acute pain transition into chronicity. While pain prolonged, pain experience gradually but irregularly changed, exaggerating pain perception. The changes concerned mainly emotional factors and were related to the chronicity itself. Anxiety also played a significant role.     

The course of the acute vertebral body fragility fracture: its effect on pain,disability and quality of life during 12 months

The vertebral body fracture is the most frequent bone fragility fracture. In spite of this there is considerable uncertainty about the frequency, extent and severity of the acute pain and even more about the duration of pain, the magnitude of disability and how much daily life is disturbed in the post-fracture period. The aim of the present study was to follow the course of pain, disability, ADL and QoL in patients during the year after an acute low energy vertebral body fracture. The study design was a longitudinal cohort study with prospective data collection. All the patients over 40 years admitted to the emergency unit because of back pain with a radiologically acute vertebral body fracture were eligible. A total of 107 patients were followed for a year. The pain, disability (von Korff pain and disability scores), ADL (Hannover ADL score), and QoL (EQ-5D) were measured after 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. Two-thirds of the patients were women, and were similar in average age, as the men around 75 years. A total of 65.4% of the fractures were due to a level fall or a minor trauma, whereas 34.6% had no recollection of trauma or a specific event as the cause of the fracture. A total of 76.6% of the fractured patients were immediately mobilized and allowed to return home while the remaining were hospitalized. The average pain intensity score after 3 weeks was 70.9 (SD 19.3), the disability score 68.9 (SD 23.6), the ADL score 37.7 (SD 22.1) and EQ-5D score of 0.37 (SD 0.37). The largest improvements, 10–15%, occurred between the initial visit and the 3 months follow-up and were quite similar for all the measures. From 3 months, all the outcome measures leveled out or tended to deteriorate resulting in a mean pain intensity score of 60.5, disability score of 53.9, ADL score of 47.6, and EQ-5D score 0.52 after 12 months. After a whole year the fractured patients’ condition was similar to the preoperative condition of patients with a herniated lumbar disc, central lumbar spinal stenosis or in patients 100% work disabled due to back or neck problems. Instead of the generally believed good prognosis for the greater majority of those fractured, the acute vertebral body fracture was the beginning of a long-lasting severe deterioration of their health.     

Lumbar disc disorders and low-back pain: socioeconomic factors and consequences

Socioeconomic factors are important risk factors for lumbar pain and disability. The total costs of low-back pain in the United States exceed $100 billion per year. Two-thirds of these costs are indirect, due to lost wages and reduced productivity. Each year, the fewer than 5% of the patients who have an episode of low-back pain account for 75% of the total costs. Because indirect costs rely heavily on changes in work status, total costs are difficult to calculate for many women and students as well as elderly and disabled patients. These methodologic challenges notwithstanding, the toll of lumbar disc disorders is enormous, underscoring the critical importance of identifying strategies to prevent these disorders and their consequences.     

Risk factors for back pain-related loss of working time after surgery for lumbar disc herniation: a 5-year follow-up study

The aim of this study is to explore the occurrence and the risk factors of back-related loss of working time in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar disc herniation. One hundred and fifty-two gainfully employed patients underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation. Two months postoperatively, those patients completed a self-report questionnaire including queries on back and leg pain (VAS), functional capacity (Oswestry disability index—ODI, version 1.0), and motivation to work. After 5 years, lost working time was evaluated by means of a postal questionnaire about sick leave and disability pensions. The cumulative number of back pain-related days-off work was calculated for each patient. All 152 patients, 86 men and 66 women, were prescribed sick leave for the first 2 months. Thereafter, 80 (53%) of them reported back pain-related sick leave or early retirement. A permanent work disability pension due to back problems was awarded to 15 (10%) patients, 5 men (6%) and 10 women (15%). Median number of all work disability days per year was 11 (interquartile range [IQR] 9–37); it was 9 days (IQR 9–22) in patients with minimal disability (ODI score 0–20) at 2 months postoperatively and 67 days (IQR 9–352) in those with moderate or severe disability (ODI > 20; P < 0.001). The respective means were 61, 29, and 140 days/year. Multivariate analysis showed ODI > 20, leg pain, and poor motivation to work to be the risk factors for extension of work disability. Results of the present study show that after the lumbar disc surgery, poor outcome in questionnaire measures the physical functioning (ODI) and leg pain at 2 months postoperatively, as well as poor motivation to work, are associated with the loss of working time. Patients with unfavourable prognosis should be directed to rehabilitation before the loss of employment.     

Percutaneous techniques in the treatment of osteoporotic, traumatic and neoplastic fractures of thoraco-lumbar spine: Our institutional experience

Fifty-eight (30 females) patients with a mean age of 55 were treated in our institution with minimal invasive surgery techniques for osteoporotic, traumatic and neoplastic fractures of the thoraco-lumbar spine. All patients completed pre-operatively and post-operatively the VAS score (0-10, 10 being the worst state for pain) as well as the Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months intervals. Overall the VAS score was reduced from 7.8 points pre-operatively, to 2.1 points at the 36 month follow up. Oswestry disability score improved from a pre-operative severe disability to moderate disability at 3 months up to a minimum disability at 36 months. The minimally invasive surgical techniques can significantly improve clinical outcomes by preventing many of the drawbacks associated with open approaches whilst also allowing to associate other methods such as coblation, vertebroplasty, interbody fusion that can be complementary to vertebral fixation.     

Assessment of outcome in patients with low-back pain.

The Low-Back Outcome Score has been devised as a new and accurate rating system for patients with low-back pain. Thirteen factors, such as pain, employment, sporting ability, rest required, and activities of daily living, were included; subjective opinion was excluded. Pain and active pursuits were weighted. Presentation of the score as a questionnaire, excluding examination findings, eliminated both interobserver variation and observer variation with time. The score was applied retrospectively in a follow-up study of conservatively treated patients and was found to be more comprehensive and more discriminating than the Oswestry Disability Score, the Waddell Disability Rating, or the Waddell Physical Impairment Rating. The Low-Back Outcome Score is recommended for further evaluation in future prospective studies in low-back pain.     

Long-term return to work after a functional restoration program for chronic low-back pain patients: a prospective study

Low-back pain is a major health and socio economic problem. Functional restoration programs (FRP) have been developed to promote the socio-professional reintegration of patients with important work absenteeism. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effectiveness of FRP in a group of 105 chronic low-back pain patients and to determine the predictive factors of return to work. One hundred-and-five chronic LBP patients with over 1 month of work absenteeism were included in a FRP. Pain, professional status, quality of life, functional disability, psychological impact, and fear and avoidance beliefs were evaluated at baseline, after 1 year and at the end of follow-up. Main effectiveness criterion was return to work. Fifty-five percent of the patients returned to work after mean follow-up time of 3.5 years, compared with 9% of the patients at work at baseline. Quality of life, functional disability, psychological factors, and fear and avoidance beliefs were all significantly improved. Three predictive factors were found: younger age at the onset of low-back pain, practice of sports, and shorter duration of sick leave at baseline. FRP show positive results in terms of return to work for chronic LBP patients with prolonged work absenteeism. Efforts should be made to propose such programs at an earlier stage of the disease.     

Functional restoration with behavioral support. A one-year prospective study of patients with chronic low-back pain

Patients with chronic disabling low-back pain have poor prospects of returning to work. The authors tested a treatment program of functional restoration with behavioral support through 1 year prospective observation of patients disabled for an average of 19 months without evidence of surgically correctable disease. Ninety patients were studied: 59 program graduates, five program dropouts, 17 patients denied program authorization by their insurance carriers, and six crossover patients. Three patients were admitted but refused to participate in the treatment program. Initial demographic, physical, and self-assessment attributes were similar for all four groups. At year's end, 81% of program graduates, 40% of the dropouts, and 29% of those denied the program had returned to work. All six crossover patients were working 6 months after treatment. Program graduates showed significant improvements in self-assessed pain, disability, and depression, and in physical capacities after 3 weeks of treatment. These improvements were maintained through the year except for partial decreases in frequent lifting, cycling endurance, and isokinetic trunk extension strength. Functional restoration with behavioral support is an effective treatment for patients with chronic, disabling low-back pain, as measured by self-assessments, physical capacities, and return to work.     

The impact of treatment confidence on pain and related disability among patients with low-back pain : results from the University of California, Los Angeles, low-back pain study

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although many researchers and practitioners believe that patients' positive expectations of their treatment favorably influence clinical outcomes, there is little scientific evidence to support this belief. PURPOSE: To describe the level of patients' initial confidence in the success of their assigned treatment, by treatment group and other factors; and to estimate the effects of treatment confidence on subsequent changes in low-back pain and related disability. STUDY DESIGN AND PATIENT SAMPLE: Randomized clinical trial involving 681 patients treated for low-back pain in a managed-care facility in Southern California. OUTCOME MEASURES: Treatment confidence; and changes in three clinical measures of low-back pain: average pain, most severe pain and back-pain-related disability. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: medical care with and without physical therapy, and chiropractic care with and without physical modalities. Information was collected by questionnaires at baseline, 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months. Treatment confidence was measured just after randomization on a scale of 0 to 10. RESULTS: Treatment confidence was lowest, on average, for patients assigned to medical care only and highest for patients assigned to medical care plus physical therapy. Other predictors of high treatment confidence were having acute pain and being older, female and nonwhite. Although treatment confidence was only weakly associated with subsequent changes in low-back pain or disability in the total sample, high treatment confidence was associated with greater improvement among patients assigned to medical care plus physical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Initial confidence in treatment for low-back pain varies by type of care and other factors. Higher confidence may have some beneficial effect on the course of low-back pain in certain patients, but this effect may depend on the type of interaction between client and provider.     

Cost-benefit evaluation of spinal cord stimulation treatment for failed-back surgery syndrome patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Spinal cord stimulation is a well-known treatment of rigorously selected failed-back surgery syndrome patients. Efficacy levels over 50% of pain relief have been reported in long-term studies. The objective of this multicenter prospective evaluation was to analyze the cost to benefit ratio of spinal cord stimulation treatment for failed back surgery syndrome patients. METHODS: Nine hospitals (pain evaluation and treatment centers) were involved in the study. Forty-three patients were selected and implanted between January 1999 and January 2000. For each patient, pre- and post-operative evaluations (6, 12 and 24 months after implantation) were performed to assess pain relief and economical impact on pain treatment costs. RESULTS: After 24 months, mean 60% pain relief was achieved as assessed with the neuropathic pain score using a Visual Analog Scale (success rate=70%), whereas low-back pain was moderately reduced (29%). The Oswestry Disability questionnaire score was improved by a mean 39%. Costs of pain treatment (medication, consultation, other) are reduced by a mean 64% (1705 Euro) per patient per year. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms a clear analgesic effect on neuropathic sciatalgia, and moderate attenuation of low-back pain. One particular interest of this study is the medico-economic prospective evaluation showing that the initial cost of the implanted device is compensated by a significant, early, and stable reduction in the cost of associated pain therapies.     

Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) for low back pain in worker's compensation patients: can it provide a potential answer? Long-term results

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study was conducted to evaluate improvements in pain and disability in a series of 53 consecutive worker's compensation patients with low back pain (LBP) after treatment with the intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients seen in the out-patient clinic of the Spine Institute of Louisiana for LBP of discogenic origin were screened for eligibility to receive IDET procedure. A total of 134 patients were treated using IDET for their discogenic LBP during the study period. Fifty-three patients presented to us via the worker's compensation claim program. The outcomes of these 53 patients were analyzed statistically for the current study by physical examination and self-assessment questionnaires of pain and disability at baseline and at 12-months postprocedure. Pain and disability outcomes were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and Oswestry disability index, respectively. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 41.83 years (range 20 to 61 y). Whites (52.8%), African-Americans (30.2%), and Hispanics (17%) formed the majority of population. Forty-nine percent were using narcotics. The first definitive end point was considered at 12 months after the procedure. Median follow-up period was 56 months (range 29 to 72 mo). A mean reduction (P<0.001) of 62.6% in the VAS score and 69.3% in the Oswestry scores was noted after IDET. The patient's initial VAS and Oswestry scores (P<0.05) significantly affected the final outcomes. About 47.2% of the patients had some degree of economic productivity and only 7 (initial 26) consumed narcotic analgesics. CONCLUSIONS: IDET procedure can be a useful, safe, and cost-effective option in the management of carefully selected workers compensation claimants with chronic LBP of discogenic etiology.     

The efficacy of a risk factor-based cognitive behavioral intervention and electromyographic biofeedback in patients with acute sciatic pain. An attempt to prevent chronicity

STUDY DESIGN: An investigation of the efficacy of an individually scheduled, risk factor-based cognitive behavioral therapy and a standardized electromyographic biofeedback intervention in the prevention of chronicity in patients with acute sciatica and psychosocial risk factors for chronicity. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possibility of enhancing pain relief and preventing chronicity in patients with acute sciatica, based on a screening for psychosocial high-risk factors of chronification. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Psychological interventions were evaluated mainly in patients with chronic low back pain. Numerous randomized trials have demonstrated their efficacy, whereas the amount of pain relief was found to be marginal. METHODS: Subjective and behavioral outcome parameters were compared with the respective parameters in age-, gender-, and diagnosis-matched high- and low-risk patients. No additional behavioral treatment for in-patient medical therapy was offered to the patients. Outcome of these patients also was compared with that of a group of refusers of behavioral therapy. Psychological, functional, and behavioral variables were measured before and after treatment and at 3-, 6-, 12- and 18-month follow-up visits. Changes over time, group differences, and possible group x time interactions were analyzed by analysis of variance and nonparameteric comparisons. RESULTS: Data analysis showed a statistically and clinically significant, beneficial effect of both behavioral interventions. However, risk factor-based cognitive behavioral therapy was superior to electromyographic biofeedback intervention with respect to pain relief and application for early retirement. The cognitive behavioral therapy showed a similar good outcome (e.g., 90% showed a clinical significant pain reduction) as the low-risk patients (83% pain reduction). High risk patients and refusers of therapy showed a poor outcome in pain (33% and 20% pain reduction, respectively), disability, and work performance. CONCLUSIONS: Individually scheduled, risk factor-based cognitive behavior therapy could be a beneficial treatment modality, which can be offered, in addition to a medical treatment, to patients with acute sciatica and psychosocial high risk factors for chronicity. It may be an effective way to prevent chronification in these patients.