Table 3.
Baseline characteristics of study population with chronic lumbar radiculopathy
| Sham group (n=40) | Caudal epidural saline group (n=39) | Caudal epidural steroid group (n=37) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 42.8 (9.2) | 42.8 (11.6) | 40.1 (10.0) |
| Male sex | 24 (60) | 24 (62) | 20 (54) |
| Mean (SD) body mass index (kg/m²) | 26.0 (3.3) | 26.1 (3.6) | 26.7 (4.5) |
| Physically demanding work | 19 (47) | 18 (46) | 21 (57) |
| Received sickness benefit* | 22 (55) | 26 (67) | 25 (68) |
| Mean (SD) duration of sick leave (weeks) | 14.0 (32.8) | 21.3 (32.7) | 20.1 (37.6) |
| Mean (SD) duration of leg pain (weeks) | 26.7 (22.4) | 57.1 (158.0) | 42.5 (62.6) |
| Mean (SD) duration of back pain (weeks) | 46.6 (86.3) | 63.1 (157.8) | 50.4 (64.3) |
| Use of analgesics | |||
| Paracetamol | 13 (33) | 9 (23) | 11 (30) |
| NSAID | 6 (15) | 4 (10) | 10 (27) |
| Morphine | 6 (15) | 7 (18) | 9 (24) |
| Positive straight leg raising test† | 21 (53) | 23 (59) | 18 (49) |
| Dermatomal sensory loss | 31 (78) | 23 (59) | 29 (78) |
| Dermatomal muscle weakness | 31 (78) | 31 (80) | 32 (87) |
| Knee tendon reflex difference | 6 (15) | 9 (23) | 6 (16) |
| Ankle tendon reflex difference‡ | 13 (33) | 24 (62) | 10 (27) |
| Clinically suspected level of lumbar radiculopathy | |||
| L2-L3 | – | – | 1 (3) |
| L3-L4 | 3 (8) | 2 (5) | 2 (5) |
| L4-L5 | 12 (30) | 11 (28) | 14 (38) |
| L5-S1 | 25 (63) | 26 (67) | 20 (54) |
| MRI or CT findings | |||
| Normal | – | 1 (3) | – |
| Disc protrusion | 1 (3) | – | – |
| Disc herniation | 24 (60) | 23 (59) | 26 (70) |
| Disc sequestration | 14 (35) | 14 (36) | 11 (30) |
| Recess stenosis | 1 (3) | 1 (3) | – |
| Mean (95% CI) FABQ work | 21.6 (17.9 to 25.3) | 25.0 (21.9 to 28.1) | 23.5 (20.5 to 26.5) |
| Mean (95% CI) FABQ physical activity | 13.0 (11.3 to 14.7) | 13.5 (12.1 to 14.9) | 11.9 (10.2 to 13.6) |
| Mean (95% CI) Oswestry disability index | 26.3 (22.0 to 30.6) | 31.4 (26.9 to 35.9) | 32.5 (28.6 to 36.4) |
| Mean (95% CI) EQ5D | 0.54 (0.47 to 0.56) | 0.46 (0.35 to 0.56) | 0.54 (0.45 to 0.62) |
| Mean (95% CI) VAS leg pain | 48.3 (39.6 to 56.9) | 53.5 (45.6 to 61.3) | 50.1 (42.5 to 57.7) |
| Mean (95% CI) VAS back pain | 46.3 (39.2 to 54.1) | 49.6 (40.3 to 58.2) | 46.8 (39.0 to 54.6) |
Data are number (%) unless stated otherwise. SD=standard deviation; CI=confidence intervals; NSAID=non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; MRI=magnetic resonance imaging; CT=computer tomography; FABQ=fear avoidance beliefs questionnaire; EQ5D=European quality of life measure; VAS=visual analogue scale.
*On full or partial sick leave, government funded rehabilitation, or disability pension.
†When radiating leg pain >60° elevated leg.
‡P=0.004 difference.