Sciatica Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sciatica, including details on treatment, prevention, medication.

Factors predicting outcomes of mechanical sciatica: a review of 1092 cases.

Bejia I, Younes M, Zrour S, Touzi M, Bergaoui N

Rheumatology Department, Monastir Hospital, EPS Monastir 5000, Tunisia. ismail.bejia@lycos.com

As an extremely common symptom and major source of lost productivity, mechanical sciatica places a heavy burden on public health. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1092 medical records to determine the epidemiological, clinical, imaging study, and therapeutic characteristics of mechanical sciatica. We also looked for factors associated with adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 45.0 +/- 13.3 years, and 61.8% of patients were women. A history of low back pain was noted in 35.2% of cases. A single nerve root was involved in 68% of cases, and L5 was the most commonly affected root. Disk herniation was the cause in 58.4% of patients. First-line conservative treatment provided relief in 75% of cases, and the overall 6-month outcome was favorable in 76.5% of cases. CONCLUSION: The multivariate analysis conducted in the overall patient population showed that factors associated with adverse 6-month outcomes were heavy labor (odds ratio (OR) = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.01-2.86; P = 0.049) and obesity (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.01-2.47; P = 0.05).

Published 13 December 2004 in Joint Bone Spine, 71(6): 567-71.
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