Chronic low back pain: a study of the effects of manipulation under anesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of using self-reported questionnaires to study manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) for patients with chronic low back pain. Self-reported outcome assessment instruments were used to evaluate changes in patients receiving MUA versus those not receiving MUA.


METHODS
Two ambulatory surgical centers and 2 chiropractic clinics.


METHODS
A total of 87 subjects participated in this study. The intervention group consisted of 38 patients and the nonintervention group consisted of 49 patients. Selection was made from a convenience sample of patients selected from doctors who perform MUA at 2 centers participating in the study.


METHODS
Patients in the intervention group received MUA. Patients in the nonintervention group received traditional chiropractic treatment.


METHODS
A Numeric Pain Scale and the Roland-Morris Questionnaire were administered at baseline evaluation, after the procedure, and 4 weeks later. Results were documented and compared.


RESULTS
The average Numeric Pain Scale scores in the MUA group decreased by 50%, and the average Roland-Morris Questionnaire scores decreased by 51%. The average Numeric Pain Scale changes in the nonintervention group decreased by 26%, and in the Roland-Morris Questionnaire group mean scores decreased by 38%.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample of patients with chronic low back pain, self-reported outcomes improved after the procedure and at follow-up evaluation. There was more improvement reported in the intervention group than the nonintervention group. This study supports the need for large-scale studies on MUA. It also revealed that self-reported outcome assessments are easily administered and a dependable method to study MUA.
Palmieri
Nicholas F
NF
Smoyak
Shirley
S
D000328:Adult; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D020393:Manipulation, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome