A randomized placebo-controlled trial of single-dose IM corticosteroid for radicular low back pain.

ABSTRACT:

Study design

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of patients with radicular low back pain who present to an emergency department (ED) within 1 week of pain onset.

Objective

We hypothesized that a single intramuscular 160 mg dose of methylprednisolone acetate would improve pain and functional outcomes 1 month after ED discharge if the corticosteroid were administered early in disease symptomotology.

Summary of background data

Parenteral corticosteroids are not recommended for acute, radicular low back pain, though their role in this disease process is ill-defined. To date, this medication class has only been studied in a highly selected group of patients requiring hospitalization. METHODS.: Adults between the ages of 21 and 50 who presented to an ED wi

SUBMITTER: Friedman BW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2597789 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature