| Methods |
Randomized allocation by random number list. Double blind (participants and observers). |
| Participants |
Departments of Rheumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery, East Dorset.
74 participants with chronic non‐specific back pain, duration over 6 months.
Experimental: mean age (SD) 46 (11), 20 males, median duration of pain >10 years, past compensation 17%, past back surgery 11%.
Control group: mean age (SD) 46 (11), 20 males, median duration of pain >10 years, past compensation 5%, past back surgery 11% |
| Interventions |
Experimental group (E) (n = 36): Weekly injections of lumbopelvic ligaments with glucose (12.5%) glycerine (12.5%) phenol (1.2%) 0.25% lignocaine, 10 ml in total. 3 injection treatments.
Control group (C) (n = 38):
Weekly injections of lumbopelvic ligaments with 0.5% lignocaine, 10 ml in total. 3 injection treatments. |
| Outcomes |
Mean (SD) of outcomes at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months after intervention:
VAS pain ‐ (E) 5.3 (5.4), 5.2 (4.8), 5.1 (4.8), 5.2 (5.4); (C) 5.3 (5.5), 4.8 (4.6), 5.3 (5.2), 4.4 (6.2).
Oswestry disability scale ‐ (E) 34 (36), 34 (36), 36 (36), 36 (30); (C) 33 (37), 33 (37), 34 (37), 35 (37). |
| Notes |
Methodological quality score 9/11. |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Adequate sequence generation? |
Low risk |
Randomized allocation by random number list. |
| Allocation concealment? |
Unclear risk |
B ‐ Unclear |
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ patients? |
Low risk |
|
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ providers? |
Unclear risk |
Unclear from text. |
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ outcome assessors? |
Low risk |
|
| Incomplete outcome data addressed?
All outcomes ‐ drop‐outs? |
Low risk |
|
| Incomplete outcome data addressed?
All outcomes ‐ ITT analysis? |
Low risk |
|
| Similarity of baseline characteristics? |
Low risk |
|
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar? |
Low risk |
|
| Compliance acceptable? |
Low risk |
|
| Timing outcome assessments similar? |
Low risk |
|
