Table 3. Individual Study Characteristics
ID
Author
Population studied
Subjects
Treatment
Follow-up
(months)
1
Balague et al
Consecutive hospital
(1999)
admissions with severe
12
acute sciatica
82
66% male
Conservative
12
Study
Predictors studied
measured
Quality
High
Outcomes
Age, gender, duration of
Composite score
“intensive pain
symptoms, smoking, previous
for recovery
management”
sciatica, EMG, BMI, QOL,
mean age 43yrs
disability, pain, imaging results
(MRI, CT), neurological signs,
73 at follow-up
antibody test
ODI Score ≤ 20,
VAS pain ≤ 15
Normal muscle
strength test
(score 5)
2
Beauvais et al
Consecutive patients
(2003)
attending rheumatology
13
departments with
symptoms of sciatica or
femoral neuralgia of <
75
Conservative
58% male
Bed rest,
mean age 41yrs
3
Adequate
analgesics,
lumbar brace +/-
60 at follow-up
1 month duration and
epidural steroid
Age, gender, distribution of
Recovery
pain, duration of pain, previous
(complete,
sciatica, presence of severe pain
partial, failure)
requiring inpatient treatment, CT
based on residual
findings
symptoms,
analgesic use
injection
disc herniation on CT
and return to
work and athletic
activities
3
Carragee &
Consecutive patients
188
Usual care
24
Adequate
Disc morphology on MRI, age,
Composite
ID
Author
Population studied
Subjects
Treatment
Follow-up
(months)
Kim (1997)
referred to hospital for
14
MRI scan with
Study
Predictors studied
Outcomes
measured
Quality
gender, height, weight, duration,
measure of
affected side, previous spinal
overall outcome
surgery, occupation (heaviness
comprising self-
of work), SLR, motor weakness,
reported pain,
available for 2 year
co-morbidity, smoking, alcohol,
medication use,
follow-up
workers compensation,
activity
litigation, mode of treatment.
restriction and
symptoms suggestive
of sciatica and
58% male
mean age 42.5yrs
Conservative 64%
and surgical 36%
135 at follow-up
satisfaction on
0-10 scale
> 6 = good
≤6 = poor
4
Hasenbring et
Consecutive patients
al (1994)
admitted to hospital
15
with acute radicular
pain and radiologically
diagnosed disc
prolapse
111
Usual care
60% male
Surgical 66%
mean age 41.7yrs
Conservative 34%
6
Adequate
Depression (BDI), “daily hassles
Pain Intensity
in fifteen areas of daily living
including work, home,
90 at follow-up
relationships and financial”
(KISS)
“emotional, cognitive & coping
reactions to pain” (KSI), health
locus of control”, duration of
symptoms, nature of onset,
previous surgery, disc
displacement on imaging,
paresis, scoliosis, treatment
Self report
8 point scale
ID
Author
Population studied
Subjects
Treatment
Follow-up
(months)
Study
Predictors studied
Outcomes
measured
Quality
(surgical / conservative),
obesity, age, social status,
occupation (posture, heaviness
of work), duration of inability to
work
5
Jensen et al
2007
Consecutive patients
referred to a specialist
187
Conservative
55.5% male
Education,
outpatient back pain
16
centre with symptoms
suggestive of sciatica
mean age 45yrs
14
High
reassurance,
analgesia, +/-
154 at follow-up
and enrolled in an RCT
exercise
programme +/-
of active conservative
Composite
height, signal & herniation);
measure of
nerve root compromise; spinal
recovery based
stenosis (central, lateral,
on pain VRS (11
foraminal).
point) and
Age
manual
treatment
MRI findings (disc contour,
RMDQ
Gender
physiotherapy
Treatment
If surgery
Recovery =
pain score < 1 &
required patients
RMDQ ≤ 3
excluded from
follow-up analysis
6
Komori et al
Consecutive patients
2002
presenting to hospital
17
with unilateral leg pain
131
Usual care
no demographic
Conservative -
data presented
rest, medication,
and with radiologically
confirmed herniated
90 at follow-up
traction.
12
Poor
Age, gender, occupation
Self-reported
(heaviness of work), previous
perceived
LBP or sciatica, Duration of
outcome based
symptoms
on residual
Leg symptoms at first visit (
symptoms and
ID
Author
Population studied
Subjects
Treatment
Follow-up
(months)
disc
Study
Predictors studied
measured
Quality
pain, tension signs (SLR ,FST ),
If surgery
motor paresis & sensory
required patients
disturbance)
excluded from
follow-up analysis
Outcomes
disability
3 point scale
(poor, fair, good)
Level & type of herniation / disc
degeneration on MRI scan
7
Miranda et al
Employees of Finnish
(2002)
forestry industry
19
receiving annual
questionnaire about
musculoskeletal pain
3312
None
12
High
74% male
mean age 45.3yrs
2984 at follow-up
Age, gender, weight, height,
Persistent severe
smoking, driving, mental stress
sciatica
Occupational activities
Self report of
(twisting, bending, kneeling or
sciatic pain for
squatting, working with arms
>30 days / year
raised, lifting), heaviness of
in 2 consecutive
work, ‘overload’ at work, risk of
years (1994 &
accident at work,
1995) on
Physical exercise and sporting
modified NMQ)
activity in general & specific
sports
8
Vroomen et al
Consecutive patients
(2002)
presenting to GP with
18
1st episode of sciatica
and pain sufficient to
justify further therapy.
183
Usual care
56% male
Surgery if
mean age 46yrs
169 at follow-up
indicated (15%)
A second analysis
3
Adequate
Age, gender, education, living
Poor outcome
alone, employment, previous
defined as
sciatica, previous LBP, family
absence of
history, co-morbidity, smoking,
improvement
sporting activity, BMI, Duration
ID
Author
Population studied
Subjects
Treatment
Follow-up
(months)
Study
Predictors studied
measured
Quality
Study performed
excluding patients
of symptoms, revised Oswestry
concurrently with RCT
who had surgical
score, Roland disability score,
of bed rest
treatment (n=156)
MPQ score
was performed
Outcomes
Leg pain > back pain
Pain-related symptoms and
examination findings (SLR,
FST, paresis, sensory loss,
finger to floor distance)
EMG
Electromyogram
BDI
Beck Depression Inventory
BMI
Body Mass Index
KISS
Kiel Inventory of Subjective Situations
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KSI
Kiel Pain Inventory
CT
Computed Tomography
VRS
Verbal Rating Scale
QOL
Quality of life
RMDQ
Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire
VAS
Visual Analogue Score
FST
Femoral Stretch test
ODI
Oswestry Disability Index
NMQ
Nordic Questionnaire
LBP
Low back pain
MPQ
McGill Pain Questionnaire
SLR
Straight leg raise test