Table 1.
ED data and clinical features of LBP patients
| ED data and clinical features | Diagnosis considered
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sciatica | Lumbago | Lumbosciatica | |
| White triage code | 7.1% | 19% | 18.1% |
| Green triage code | 78.6% | 73.9% | 77.3% |
| Yellow triage code | 14.3% | 6.5% | 4.2% |
| Red triage code | 0 | 0.1% | 0 |
| Home discharge | 100% | 94.7% | 97.4% |
| Ward admission | 0 | 5.3% | 2.6% |
| Ward LOS (days) | 0 | 15.3 | 15.5 |
| Ward mean cost per patient | 0 | €9,500 | €9,800 |
| ED mean cost, non-ward-admitted patients | €150 | €190 | €220 |
| Sick days off work | 106.0 | 1,122.0 | 1,180.0 |
| Sick days off work (per capita) | 3.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Cost of sick days off work | €6,001.90 | €63,529.80 | €66,813.90 |
| Cost of sick days off work (per capita) | €214.40 | €90.20 | €133.10 |
| Mean NRS score at ED admission | 8.4 | 7.7 | 8.1 |
| NRS measurement at ED admission | 46.4% | 34.9% | 43.6% |
| Mean NRS score at ED discharge | 0 | 9 | 10 |
| NSAIDs administered at the ED | 60.7% | 72% | 47.4% |
| Opiates administered at the ED | 32.1% | 41.9% | 38.6% |
| Codeine PO | 88.9% | 50.5% | 37.1% |
| Morphine IV | 11.1% | 47.8% | 60.8% |
| Fentanyl IV | 0 | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| Oxycodone ± naloxone CR PO | 0 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| NSAIDs at home | 7.1% | 5.5% | 7.8% |
| Opiates at home | 10.7% | 2.6% | 9.6% |
| Imaging at the ED | 7.1% | 56.4% | 28.5% |
| Lumbosacral standard X-ray | 50% | 40.8% | 40.6% |
| Various X-rays | 100% | 68.2% | 23.3% |
| Lumbosacral CT scan | 0 | 3.5% | 1.4% |
| Abdominal US | 0 | 14.1% | 37.1% |
| Lumbosacral MRI scan | 0 | 1% | 2.1% |
Abbreviations: ED, emergency department; LBP, low-back pain; LOS, length of stay; NRS, numeric rating scale; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; CR, controlled release; PO, per os (by mouth); IV, intravenous; CT, computed tomography; US, ultrasonography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.