Manipulation under anesthesia for lumbopelvic pain: a retrospective review of 18 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this case series is to report the effects of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) for patients with lumbopelvic (lumbar spine, sacroiliac and/or pelvic, hip) pain in an outpatient ambulatory/hospital-based setting.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of cases treated at an outpatient ambulatory surgical center in New York and a general hospital in New York was performed. Patients with pre- and postintervention Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI) scores and lumbopelvic and hip complaints were included (N = 18). No intervention other than MUA was administered between the initial and follow-up ODI scoring. Scores on the ODI were assessed within 1 week prior to MUA and again within 2 weeks postprocedure.


RESULTS
Patients underwent 2 to 4 chiropractic MUA procedures over the course of 7 to 8 days as per National Academy of Manipulation Under Anesthesia physicians' protocols. Preprocedure ODI scores ranged from 38 to 76, with an average score of 53.4. Postprocedure scores ranged from 0 to 66, with an average score of 32.8. For each patient, ODI scores were lower after MUA, with an average decrease of 20.6. Sixteen of 18 patients experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in ODI score. No adverse reactions were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
For 16 of the 18 patients with chronic lumbopelvic pain reported in this study, MUA showed clinically meaningful reduction in low back pain disability.
Doctor of Chiropractic, United Health Services, Binghamton, NY.
Douglas J
DJ
Taber
Professor of Nursing, Anthropology and Bioengineering, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY ; Director, Institute for Primary and Preventative Health Care Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY.
Gary D
GD
James
Program Assistant, United Health Services Hospitals Graduate Medical Education/Institutional Review Board, Johnson City, NY.
Alain
A
Jacon
Anesthesia; Back pain; Chiropractic; Lumbar vertebrae; Manipulation