Steroids for Emergency Department Patients with Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy

Phase 4

Recruiting

• Conditions: Musculoskeletal - Other muscular and skeletal disorders; Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation - Physiotherapy; lumbosacral radiculopathy

• Registration Number: ACTRN12611001020976
• Lead Sponsor: Dr Gerben Keijzers

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-09-22
• Last Update Posted: 2020-01-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

(1) Low back pain with radiculopathy – Defined as a history of a dermatomal distribution of pain, an increase in pain on coughing, sneezing, or straining, paroxysmal pain, and predominant leg pain

(2) Straight leg test positive - The straight leg raise test is deemed to be positive when there is reproduction of pain in the sciatic nerve distribution of the affected leg between 0 to 70 degrees, with the patient in the supine position with no pillow, a flat bed in 180 degrees horizontal, with the patient’s head and pelvis in the 180 degrees horizontal plane.

(3) Unable to mobilize safely without assistance

Exclusion Criteria

(1) Declines intravenous cannulation
(2) Below 18 or over 55
(3) People with intellectual or mental impairment
(4) Allergy to dexamethasone or NS
(5) Red flags: fever, history of malignancy, recent significant trauma, ectopic pregnancy
(6) Medical conditions were steroids are contraindicated or are being given (current asthma using oral steroids, body builders using anabolic steroids)
(7) History of lower back surgery

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified