Primary and secondary outcomes from early surgery (ES) versus prolonged conservative treatment (CT) for patients with sciatica
| 8 weeks | 52 weeks | 104 weeks | 260 weeks | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcomes | ES | PCT | Difference (95% CI) | ES | PCT | Difference (95% CI) | ES | PCT | Difference (95% CI) | ES | PCT | Difference (95% CI) |
| Disability* | 6.1 (0.5) | 9.2 (0.5) | 3.2 (1.9 to 4.4) | 3.3 (0.5) | 3.7 (0.5) | 0.4 (−0.8 to 1.7) | 3.4 (0.5) | 2.6 (0.5) | −0.8 (−2.1 to 0.5) | 3.5 (0.5) | 3.4 (0.5) | −0.1 (−1.4 to 1.3) |
| Leg pain† | 10.2 (1.9) | 27.9 (1.9) | 17.7 (12.5 to 22.9) | 11.0 (1.9) | 10.9 (1.9) | −0.1 (−5.3 to 5.1) | 10.9 (2.0) | 8.8 (2.0) | −2.0 (−7.5 to 3.4) | 15.6 (2.0) | 12.8 (2.0) | −2.7 (−8.4 to 2.9) |
| Back pain† | 14.4 (2.4) | 25.7 (2.4) | 11.3 (4.6 to 18.0) | 14.6 (2.4) | 16.0 (2.4) | 1.4 (−5.3 to 8.2) | 16.0 (2.6) | 17.0 (2.5) | 1.0 (−6.0 to 8.1) | 20.0 (2.6) | 17.0 (2.6) | −3.1 (−10.3 to 4.2) |
*Roland disability questionnaire for sciatica. Score ranges from 0 to 23, with higher scores representing worse disability.
†Measured on a 100 mm visual analogue scale, with 0 representing no pain and 100 the worst pain ever experienced.
Values are means (SE) unless stated otherwise and are based on intention to treat, CI assessed with repeated measurements analysis.