title: Parenteral corticosteroids for Emergency Department patients with non-radicular low back pain.
abstract: Although not recommended for low back pain, the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids has never been evaluated in a general low back pain population. To test the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids for Emergency Department (ED) patients with low back pain, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of long-acting methylprednisolone was conducted with follow-up assessment 1 month after ED discharge. Patients with non-traumatic low back pain were included if their straight leg raise test was negative. The primary outcome was a comparison of the change in a numerical rating scale (NRS) 1 month after discharge. Of 87 subjects randomized, 86 were successfully followed to the 1-month endpoint. The change in NRS between discharge and 1 month differed between the two groups by 0.6 (95% confidence interval -1.0 to 2.2), a clinically and statistically insignificant difference. Disability, medication use, and healthcare resources utilized were comparable in both groups. Corticosteroids do not seem to benefit patients with acute non-radicular low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Esses
authors.forename: Polly E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bijur
authors.forename: Hong K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Clemecia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solorzano
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paternoster
authors.forename: E John
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone