A randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and cost benefit of routine referral for lumbar spine radiography in patients with low back pain

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN61629868

Enrollment

476

Registered

2003-04-25

Start date

1995-07-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2019-03-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal diseases: Spinal conditions Musculoskeletal Diseases

Interventions

Lumbar spine radiography and usual care versus usual care without radiography.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Seventy-three general practices in Nottingham, North Nottinghamshire, Southern Derbyshire, North Lincolnshire and North Leicestershire. Fifty-two practices recruited participants to the trial. Randomised arm: 421 participants with low back pain, with median duration of 10 weeks. Patient preference arm: 55 participants with low back pain, with median duration of 11 weeks

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Not provided at time of registration.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Roland adaptation of the Sickness Impact Profile, visual analogue pain scale, health status scale, EuroQol, use of primary and secondary care services, and physical and complementary therapies, sickness absence, medication use, patient satisfaction, reassurance and belief in value of radiography at 3 and 9 months post-randomisation.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Not provided at time of registration.	—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026