Lower age, higher education among predictors of better unilateral lumbar radiculopathy outcomes

Patients with higher education, lower age, full-time working status and lower fear-avoidance beliefs typically had better outcomes following caudal epidural injections for chronic unilateral lumbar radiculopathy, according to recently published study data.

A total of 116 patients with chronic unilateral lumbar radiculopathy were included in the sham-controlled clinical trial on epidural injection of glucocorticoids. The researchers used the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the VAS score for low back pain and leg pain as outcome measures, defining success at follow-up as a score of 17.5 or lower for VAS leg pain, 22.5 or lower for VAS back pain and 20 or lower for Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). They also used logistic multivariable regression analysis to evaluate 15 clinically relevant variables, including demographic, psychosocial, clinical and radiological data.

Seventy-five patients (64.7%) achieved a successful outcome at follow-up in terms of ODI score, 54 patients (46.6%) had a successful outcome in terms of VAS leg pain score and 47 (40.5%) patients had a successful outcome in terms of VAS back pain score.

Study data showed higher education (university- or college-level) and working full-time to be statistically significant independent predictors for a successful outcome with regard to VAS score for leg pain, according to the researchers. Additionally, lower patient age was found to be predictive of better ODI score and reduced back pain, whereas higher education level, full-time working status and muscle weakness at baseline were found to be predictive of reduced leg pain. Contrastingly, reflex impairment at baseline was predictive of increased leg pain, according to the researchers. – by Robert Linnehan

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Iversen T, et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015;doi:10.1186/s12891-015-0474-9.