Table 3 Comparisons of primary outcome among groups at different time points and across four waves of times in individual groups

VAS pain, mm Baseline

42.3 ± 11.2

39.7 ± 10.3

2.6 ^a (−4.6, 9.7)

0.483^t

1 month

23.2 ± 14.7

21.8 ± 15.0

0.9 (−4.5, 8.0)

0.645

3 month

13.1 ± 14.9

11.6 ± 12.4

0.8 (−4.5, 6.0)

0.779

6 month

11.9 ± 16.7

8.7 ± 11.5

2.8 (−3.0, 8.6)

0.347

P Value^c

(post hoc test)

< 0.001*

(B > 1 M; B > 3 M; B > 6 M)

< 0.001*

(B > 1 M; B > 3 M; B > 6 M; 1 M > 3 M; 1 M > 6 M)