TABLE 2.
Details of the study outcomesa
|
Primary Outcome |
PTF + ODI |
|||||
| Functionality Scores |
Pre-PT |
Post-PT |
P
Value |
|||
| Mean ± SD Oswestry score, % | 39.8 ± 19.8 | 27.9 ± 26.3 | <.001 | |||
| >10% change in Oswestry score, No. (%)b | 37 (61.7) | … | … | |||
|
Secondary Outcomes |
OF |
PTF |
PTF + ODI |
P
Valuec |
||
| Pain scores, mean ± SDd | ||||||
| Pre-PT pain score | 9.2 ± 1.0 | 8.5 ± 1.0 | 5.41 ± 2.1 | NS | ||
| Post-PT pain score | 4.7 ± 2.9 | 3.7 ± 1.0 | 2 ± 2.5 | NS | ||
| PT completion, n | ||||||
| Failed PT and used opioids | 36 | 3 | 1 | .0001 | ||
| Lost to follow up with PT | 41 | 28 | 18 | .026 | ||
|
OF |
PTF |
PTF + ODI |
||||
|
Medication Usage, No. (%) |
Pre-PT |
Post-PT |
Pre-PT |
Post-PT |
Pre-PT |
Post-PT |
| Total opioids | 91 (100) | 47 (100) | … | 3 (100) | … | 1 (100) |
| Morphine | 2 (2.2) | 2 (4.3) | … | 1 (33.3) | … | 0 |
| Codeine | 8 (8.8) | 0 | … | 0 | … | 0 |
| Oxycodone | 8 (8.8) | 9 (19.1) | … | 1 (33.3) | … | 1 (100) |
| Hydrocodone | 34 (37.4) | 16 (34) | … | 0 | … | 0 |
| Buprenorphine | 2 (2.2) | 0 | … | 0 | … | 0 |
| Tramadol | 37 (40.6) | 20 (42.6) | … | 1 (33.3) | … | 0 |
| Total nonopioids | 127 (100) | 93 (100) | 85 (100) | 36 (100) | 67 (100) | 54 (100) |
| NSAIDs | 50 (39.4) | 33 (35.5) | 43 (50.6) | 10 (27.8) | 22 (32.8) | 22 (40.7) |
| Acetaminophen | 25 (19.7) | 13 (13.9) | 22 (25.9) | 6 (16.7) | 20 (29.9) | 16 (29.6) |
| Muscle relaxant | 23 (18.1) | 18 (19.4) | 14 (16.4) | 8 (22.2) | 22 (32.8) | 10 (18.5) |
| Gabapentin | 24 (18.9) | 25 (26.9) | 6 (7.1) | 10 (27.8) | 3 (4.5) | 5 (9.3) |
| Unspecified | 5 (3.9) | 4 (4.3) | 0 | 2 (5.5) | 0 | 1 (1.9) |
NS = not significant; NSAIDs = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ODI = Oswestry Disability Index; OF = opioids first group; PT = physical therapy; PTF = physical therapy first group.
a
N = 60 for the following groups: PTF + ODI, OF, PTF, and PTF + ODI.
b
P value for mean Oswestry score compares only PTF + ODI group prior to and after PT completion. A greater than 10% change in ODI indicates a significant difference within 90% confidence interval.
c
P values for PT completion outcomes compares OF group to total of PTF and PTF + ODI group.
d
Pain score based on numeric scale from 1 to 10. Pain scores compared between all 3 groups without significance.