Low Back Pain
Conditions
Keywords
low back pain, spine, lumbar spine, lumbar instability, radiology, functional radiology
Brief summary
The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and validity of conventional radiographs of the lumbo-sacral spine when the patient is lying on a special table which facilitates maximal lumbo-sacral flexion. The results gained from the radiographs with the patient on the table will be compared with those gained from standard flexion-extension radiographs of the lumbo-sacral spine.
Detailed description
After enrollment in the study patients will complete a set of questionnaire concerning degree, extent and quality of their low back problem. Afterwards a lateral conventional radiograph of the lumbar spine with the patient on a custom made positioning table will be taken. The table facilitates optimal flexion of the lumbar spine. Afterwards sagittal translation and rotation are measured on the flexion-extension radiographs and the radiograph taken on the custom made table. Differences between the measurements will be determined.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* chronic low back pain (≥ 3 months) * clinical suspicion of lumbo-sacral instability * functional conventional radiographs of lumbar spine * pain intensity \> 4 / 10 on visual analogue scale * age 20-60 years
Exclusion criteria
* radicular pain * pain at more than two locations * lumbar spine surgery * scoliosis * lumbar spondylolysis * lumbar spondylodiscitis * anatomic aberrations of lumbar spine * unconsolidated spine fractures * neurologic deficits * spine tumor * neuromuscular disease * rheumatic disease * severe osteoporosis * radiotherapy within the last 5 years * pregnancy * insufficient German language skills * no informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| sagittal translation | baseline | sagittal translation of L1-L5 on conventional radiographs |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SF-36 questionnaire | baseline | — |
| visual analogue scale of low back pain | baseline | — |
| patient characteristics | baseline | age |
| sagittal rotation | baseline | sagittal rotation of L1-L5 on conventional radiographs |
| Oswestry questionnaire | baseline | — |
| Short Form McGill questionnaire | baseline | — |
Countries
Switzerland
Outcome results
None listed