title: Estimates of success in patients with sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation depend upon outcome measure.
abstract: The objectives were to estimate the cut-off points for success on different sciatica outcome measures and to determine the success rate after an episode of sciatica by using these cut-offs. A 12-month multicenter observational study was conducted on 466 patients with sciatica and lumbar disc herniation. The cut-off values were estimated by ROC curve analyses using Completely recovered or Much better on a 7-point global change scale as external criterion for success. The cut-off values (references in brackets) at 12 months were leg pain VAS 17.5 (0-100), back pain VAS 22.5 (0-100), Sciatica Bothersomeness Index 6.5 (0-24), Maine-Seattle Back Questionnaire 4.5 (0-12), and the SF-36 subscales bodily pain 51.5, and physical functioning 81.7 (0-100, higher values indicate better health). In conclusion, the success rates at 12 months varied from 49 to 58% depending on the measure used. The proposed cut-offs may facilitate the comparison of success rates across studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Østfold Hospital Trust, 1603 Fredrikstad, Norway. annhau@so-hf.no
authors.forename: Anne Julsrud
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grøvle
authors.forename: Jens Ivar
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Brox
authors.forename: Bård
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Natvig
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soldal
authors.forename: Margreth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grotle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*