Prognosis of patients with acute low back pain who have leg pain

Abstract

Low back pain is a major public health problem highly prevalent worldwide. Low back pain can be defined as pain or discomfort between the costal margins and above the gluteal folds, which may or may not irradiate to the lower limb. Some studies suggest that low back pain associated with the presence of pain in the lower limbs (LL) with or without leg pain is related to a poor prognosis. Objectives: To analyze the prognosis of patients who present pain in the lower limbs (LL) associated with acute low back pain, with or without leg pain and seeking medical care for primary care in several hospitals in São Paulo. Methods: This study is a prospective longitudinal inception cohort study with follow up period of 6 months. 200 patients classified with acute nonspecific low back pain reporting pain in the lower limbs and seeking medical care for primary care in several hospitals in São Paulo will complete a series of questionnaires related low back pain at baseline. All patients will be followed- up at six weeks, three, six months after the completion of the initial evaluation. The primary outcomes are time to recovery, which is defined time to recovery from pain, functional disability. The presentation of these results will be demonstrated by means of survival curves that are calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Expected results: It is expected by the end of this research, improve the understanding of the prognosis of patients with acute low back pain who have pain in the lower limb, with or without nerve root compromised.