title: Work-related chronic low back pain-return-to-work outcomes after referral to interventional pain and spine clinics.
abstract: METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate return-to-work outcomes in patients with chronic, work-related low back pain referred to pain treatment centers and/or spine clinics (PTCs/SCs).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Return-to-work outcomes in cases of work-related chronic low back pain after referral to PTCs and/or SCs have not been previously studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of 230 consecutive patients was conducted from an occupational medicine program. Of these, 122 patients were referred to a PTC/SC and 108 patients were not. Multivariate logistic regression was used to develop a model to predict improvement in functional status and pain level after 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the 1-year evaluation, there was functional improvement in the nonreferral group (P < 0.001) and no change in the referral group (P = 0.21). The change in pain level was similar. Time from injury to initial evaluation seemed to be the major factor contributing to poor outcomes in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Referral to a PTC/SC did not yield improved functional outcomes in this cohort. A major factor contributing to this finding was the length of time to referral to PTC/SC after the initial injury.
authors: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14623, USA.
authors: Rathin N
authors: RN
authors: Vora
authors: Bruce A
authors: BA
authors: Barron
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Almudevar
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Utell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D026882:Manipulation, Chiropractic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data