Revue du rhumatisme (English ed.)
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Clinical Trial
Short-term evaluation of periradicular corticosteroid injections in the treatment of lumbar radiculopathy associated with disc disease.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of periradicular corticosteroid injections performed under fluoroscopic guidance in the treatment of pain originating in the lumbosacral nerve roots. ⋯ Periradicular injections of corticosteroids done under fluoroscopic guidance as an outpatient procedure was effective and safe in our study and may deserve to be used as part of the conservative management of lumbar nerve root pain before resorting to more invasive methods.
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We conducted a prospective observational study during the winter of 1994-1995 in a representative national sample of 2,406 patients aged 18 to 65 years seen in primary care settings for acute low back pain of less than 48 hours' duration. The following data were collected: demographic, social and clinical characteristics at inclusion; treatments prescribed throughout the episode, functional impairment and restriction of usual activities. These data were used to evaluate direct costs (health costs) and indirect costs (sickness payments). ⋯ Among economically active patients, 82% were put on sick leave, for a mean duration of 8.4 +/- 4 days and 18.6% were reported as having work-related low back pain. The mean cost of outpatient care for the episode of low back pain was 1,021 French francs (FF), most of which was contributed by physical therapy (41.6%), physicians' fees (23.9%) and investigations (16%). Mean sickness payments were 821 FF per patient in the economically active subgroup and 523 FF per patient in the overall study population.
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Validation of the French version of the Dallas Pain Questionnaire in chronic low back pain patients.
To translate and to validate the metrological properties of the Dallas Pain Questionnaire, an instrument designed to evaluate the impact of low back pain on four aspects of patients' lives: daily activities, work and leisure activities, anxiety/depression and social interest. ⋯ The French version of the Dallas Pain Questionnaire is valid, reproducible, and sensitive to change in chronic low back pain patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and safety of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. A prospective, multicenter, three-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
One of the objectives of symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis is to reduce the need for drugs with a less favorable safety profile, mainly analgesics and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We conducted a three-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate the efficacy of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in terms of NSAID use reduction. Patients with primary femorotibial or hip osteoarthritis (OA) (ACR criteria and Kellgren-Lawrence radiological stage IB, II, or III) of at least six months' duration with regular pain for more than three months requiring therapy with NSAID (visual analog scale score > or = 25 mm and Lequesne's index on therapy > or = 4) were given one capsule per day of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables or a placebo for three months. ⋯ Overall patient ratings were significantly better in the active drug group (P < 0.01). Safety was oggd in both groups. After six weeks, avocado/soybean unsaponifiables reduced the need for NSAID in patients with lower limb OA.