| Methods |
Randomized allocation by unspecified predetermined system. |
| Participants |
St Thomas Hospital, London, UK
22 participants with low backache and local tenderness, duration over 3 months.
Experimental: median age 36, 4 males, median duration of pain 6 months.
Control group: median age 34, 1 male, median duration of pain 24 months. |
| Interventions |
Experimental group (E) (n=16): fortnightly injections of lumpopelvic ligaments with phenol 1.0%, dextrose 10%, glycerin 12%, procaine 0.3%, 10 mL in total
Control group (C) (n=6): fortnightly injections of lumpopelvic tender spot with procaine (0.5%), 10 mL in total. 3 injection treatments.
Both groups:
All patients were given tablets of 500 mg paracetamol, were offered a corset, and instructions on posture and back care. |
| Outcomes |
Numerical pain rating scale.
Horizontal 6‐point visual analogue scale at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
(mean values not reported) |
| Notes |
Methodological quality score 6/11 |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Adequate sequence generation? |
Low risk |
Randomized allocation by unspecified predetermined system. |
| Allocation concealment? |
Unclear risk |
B ‐ Unclear |
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ patients? |
Low risk |
|
| Blinding?
All outcomes ‐ providers? |
High risk |
|
| 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? |
Unclear risk |
Unclear from text. |
| Similarity of baseline characteristics? |
Low risk |
|
| Co‐interventions avoided or similar? |
Low risk |
|
| Compliance acceptable? |
Unclear risk |
Unclear from text. |
| Timing outcome assessments similar? |
Unclear risk |
Unclear from text. |
