Table 5.
Estimated differences in secondary outcome measures between epidural injection groups and sham group at follow-up
| Difference (95% confidence intervals) at follow-up | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks | 12 weeks | 52 weeks | |
| Leg pain | |||
| Crude analysis* | |||
| Epidural saline injection | 3.2 (−9.1 to 15.5) | 2.5 (−9.6 to 14.6) | 3.1 (−9.6 to 15.8) |
| Epidural steroid injection | −1.3 (−13.3 to 10.7) | 11.2 (−1.0 to 23.4) | −0.2 (−12.9 to 12.5) |
| Adjusted analysis† | |||
| Epidural saline injection | 2.7 (−9.8 to 15.2) | 1.7 (−10.7 to 14.0) | 0.5 (−12.4 to 13.4) |
| Epidural steroid injection | −2.6 (−14.6 to 9.4) | 10.0 (−2.2 to 22.3) | −1.4 (−14.1 to 11.4) |
| Low back pain | |||
| Crude analysis* | |||
| Epidural saline injection | −5.0 (−16.7 to 6.7) | −7.8 (−19.3 to 3.8) | −2.0 (−14.3 to 10.2) |
| Epidural steroid injection | −4.8 (−16.2 to 6.6) | 6.6 (−5.0 to 18.2) | 0.0 (−12.1 to 12.2) |
| Adjusted analysis† | |||
| Epidural saline injection | −6.9 (−18.8 to 5.1) | −9.3 (−21.2 to 2.5) | −4.1 (−16.5 to 8.4) |
| Epidural steroid injection | −6.4 (−17.9 to 5.1) | 5.1 (−6.5 to 16.8) | −1.4 (−13.6 to 10.8) |
| European quality of life measure | |||
| Crude analysis* | |||
| Epidural saline injection | −0.02 (−0.13 to 0.09) | −0.05 (−0.17 to 0.06) | −0.01 (−0.12 to 0.11) |
| Epidural steroid injection | −0.05 (−0.16 to 0.06) | −0.12 (−0.23 to −0.00) | −0.05 (−0.17 to 0.06) |
| Adjusted analysis† | |||
| Epidural saline injection | −0.01 (−0.13 to 0.10) | −0.05 (−0.16 to 0.06) | 0.01 (−1.06 to 0.13) |
| Epidural steroid injection | −0.04 (−0.15 to 0.07) | −0.11 (0.22 to 0.00) | −0.05 (−1.62 to 0.07) |
Data based on mixed model analysis with sham group as reference.
*Analysis adjusted for baseline values.
†Analysis adjusted for duration of leg pain, back pain, and sick leave.