Table 4.

Results of Krustal-Wallis analysis used to test for significant differences between patient characteristics for separate definitions of low back pain (“non-specific/mechanical low back pain with no potential nerve root involvement”, “non-specific/mechanical low back pain with potential nerve root irritation” and “low back pain attributed to secondary factors”)

Characteristics	No Potential Nerve - Potential Nerve	No Potential Nerve - Secondary	Potential Nerve - Secondary
Age	<	<	<
	p < 0.001	p < 0.001	p < 0.001
Sex (More Females)	No difference	<	No difference
	p = 0.279	p < 0.001	p = 0.416
Length of stay	No difference	<	<
	p = 0.514	p < 0.001	p < 0.001
CTAS (Higher = less severe)	>	>	>
	p < 0.005	p < 0.001	p < 0.001
Hospital admissions	<	<	<
	p < 0.001	p < 0.001	p < 0.001