Table 1 Characteristics of patients recruited, diagnostic tests and treatments used during the study
From: Predicting the evolution of neck pain episodes in routine clinical practice
Variables | n = 3001 |
|---|---|
Gender (female)a | 2227 (74.2) |
Age (years)b | 50.3 (16.0) |
Employment statusa | |
Non worker | 1166 (38.8) |
Active | 1453 (48.4) |
Duration of the pain episode (days) c | 180 (90; 365) |
Duration of the pain episode categorized (days)a | |
Acute (< 90 days) | 971 (32.4) |
Chronic (≥90 days) | 2030 (67.6) |
Time elapsed since first episodea | |
< 1 year | 648 (21.6) |
1–5 years | 984 (32.8) |
5–10 years | 677 (22.6) |
> 10 years | 572 (19.1) |
Baseline intensity of neck pain (VAS)b, d | 6.6 (2.2) |
Baseline intensity of arm pain (VAS) b, e | 6.0 (2.5) |
Baseline disability (NDI) b f | 37.2 (19.2) |
Diagnostic procedures during the episodea | |
X-Ray | 699 (23.3) |
MRI | 602 (20.1) |
CT scan | 40 (1.3) |
EMG | 58 (1.9) |
Other | 135 (4.5) |
Imaging findingsa | |
Disc degeneration | 1335 (44.5) |
Facet joint degeneration | 230 (7.7) |
Scoliosis | 135 (4.5) |
Spinal stenosis | 63 (2.1) |
Disc protrusion | 270 (9.0) |
Disc herniation (extrusion) | 518 (17.3) |
Other imaging findings | 388 (12.9) |
No findings | 995 (33.2) |
Clinical diagnosis | |
Spinal stenosis | 63 (2.1) |
Disc herniation/protrusion | 665 (22.2) |
Nonspecific syndrome | 2273 (75.7) |
Treatmentsa | |
Analgesics | 1959 (65.3) |
NSAIDs | 1826 (60.8) |
Steroids | 190 (6.3) |
Muscle relaxants | 736 (24.5) |
Opioids | 52 (1.7) |
Other | 673 (22.4) |
Non pharmacological treatmentsa | |
Physical therapy | 175 (5.8) |
Rehabilitation | 343 (11.4) |
Neuro-reflexotherapy | 2580 (86.0) |
Surgery | 8 (0.3) |
Other treatmentsa | |
Rhizolysis | 3 (0.1) |
EpiduraI injections | 13 (0.4) |
Referral to pain unit | 12 (0.4) |
Other treatmentsg | 31 (1.0) |