Back Pain: Kovacs F

Airaksinen O, Brox JI, Cedraschi C, Hildebrandt J, Klaber-Moffett J, Kovacs F, Mannion AF, Reis S, Staal JB, Ursin H, Zanoli G, Anonymous00003. · No affiliation provided · Eur Spine J. · Pubmed #16550448 No free full text.

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Urrútia G, Kovacs F, Nishishinya MB, Olabe J. · Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano, Servei d'Epidemiologia i Salut Pública, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. · Spine (Phila Pa 1976). · Pubmed #17471101 No free full text.

Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of percutaneous thermocoagulation intradiscal techniques for discogenic low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The intervertebral disc is thought to be the source of pain in a relevant proportion of cases of low back pain (LBP). Two percutaneous thermocoagulation intradiscal techniques have been described to treat discogenic LBP: percutaneous intradiscal radiofrequency thermocoagulation (PIRFT) and intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET). METHODS: An electronic search was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases up to 2005, to identify nonrandomized controlled trials and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on those techniques. All relevant studies were methodologically assessed independently by 3 reviewers. RCTs were assessed following the criteria recommended by the Cochrane Back Review Group. A qualitative synthesis of results was performed. RESULTS: Six studies were included with a total of 283 patients. Two open, nonrandomized trials (95 patients) showed positive results for IDET compared with rehabilitation and PIRFT. Results from 2 RCTs showed no differences between PIRFT and placebo, and between different PIRFT techniques. Two RCTs compared IDET with placebo. One suggested differences only in pain and in disability, while the best quality RCT showed no differences. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence does not support the efficacy or effectiveness of percutaneous thermocoagulation intradiscal techniques for the treatment of discogenic low back pain.

Kovacs F, Noguera J, Abraira V, Royuela A, Cano A, Gil del Real MT, Zamora J, Gestoso M, Muriel A, Mufraggi N, Anonymous00034. · Departamento Científico, Fundación Kovacs, Paseo de Mallorca, Spain. · Pain Med. · Pubmed #18950442 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To assess the influence of fear avoidance beliefs (FAB) and catastrophizing on low back pain (LBP)-related disability in Spanish community dwelling retirees. DESIGN: Correlation between variables measured with previously validated instruments. SETTING: Majorca, Spain. PATIENTS: 1,044 community dwelling subjects attending conferences for retired persons. OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scales for LBP and pain referred to the leg (LP), Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ) for disability, FAB-Phys questionnaire (FABQ) for FAB, and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) for catastrophizing. RESULTS: In subjects without clinically relevant LBP, FAB correlated moderately with catastrophizing (r = 0.535) and disability (r = 0.390), and weakly with LP (r = 0.119) and LBP (r = 0.197). In subjects with LBP, FAB correlated moderately with catastrophizing (r = 0.418) and disability (r = 0.408), and weakly with LP (0.152), but not with LBP. Correlations among CSQ, FABQ, and RMQ were similar in subjects with and without current LBP. In regression models, the coefficient for effect of FAB on disability was 0.14 for participants with no LBP, and 0.28 for those with pain. Corresponding values for catastrophizing were 0.17 and 0.19. CONCLUSION: In Spanish community dwelling retirees, the influence of FAB and catastrophizing on LBP-related disability is clinically small.

Berguer A, Kovacs F, Abraira V, Mufraggi N, Royuela A, Muriel A, Gestoso M, Falahat F, Martín-Granizo R, Zamora J. · Servicio de Cirugía Maxilo-Facial, Hospital Clínico Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. · J Oral Maxillofac Surg. · Pubmed #18634956 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of neuro-reflexotherapy intervention (NRT) for treating temporomandibular joint dysfunction attributed to myofascial pain. Neuro-reflexotherapy intervention consists of the temporary implantation of epidermal devices in trigger points in the back and ear. It has shown efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness in treating subacute and chronic common back pain. No study, however, has explored its efficacy in treating myofascial temporomandibular joint pain (MF/TMJP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients with MF/TMJP for more than 3 months in spite of conservative treatment, and with no evidence of major structural damage in the joint, were recruited at the Maxillofacial Department of the Hospital Clínico Universitario, a teaching hospital in Madrid, Spain. Patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group and to a control group. Patients in the treated group underwent 2 NRTs, immediately after baseline assessment and 45 days later. Sham interventions in the control group consisted of placement of the same number of epidermal devices within a 5-cm radius of the target zones. In both groups, conservative treatment during follow-up was allowed and recorded. Patients underwent clinical evaluations on 4 occasions: 5 minutes before intervention, 5 minutes after intervention, and 45 and 90 days later. The preintervention assessment was performed by the physician at the hospital service who included the patient in the study. The 3 follow-up assessments were performed independently by 1 of 2 physicians who had no connection with the research team, and who were blinded to patients' assignments. The primary outcome variable was level of pain severity during jaw movements at the last assessment (90 days), and the key comparison of interest was change in pain over time (pain levels at baseline and at 90 days). Level of pain was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Fifty-one patients with MF/TMJP were recruited into the study. Random assignment allocated 27 patients to the intervention group, and 24 to the control group. Differences in pain severity in favor of the intervention group appeared immediately after the intervention, persisted for 45 days, and increased after the second intervention. Differences at last follow-up were highly clinically and statistically significant (4 to 5 points on the VAS, P = .000), allowing for patients in the intervention group to cease drug treatment (P = .005). There were no differences in the evolution of crepitus or clicking in the joint. There were no clinically relevant side effects associated with the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: For patients in whom conservative treatment has failed, NRT improves the chronic pain associated with MF/TMJP syndrome.

Kovacs F, Abraira V, Cano A, Royuela A, Gil del Real MT, Gestoso M, Mufraggi N, Muriel A, Zamora J. · Departamento Científico, Fundación Kovacs, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. · Spine (Phila Pa 1976). · Pubmed #17762816 No free full text.

Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Correlation between previously validated questionnaires. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of fear avoidance beliefs (FAB) with disability and quality of life in elderly Spanish subjects. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: As opposed to Anglo-Saxon and Northern European patients, in Spanish low back pain (LBP) patients of working age, the influence of FAB on disability and quality of life is sparse and much less than that of pain. The influence of FAB on LBP-related disability and quality of life in the elderly is unknown. METHODS: A visual analogue scale (VAS), the Roland Morris Questionnaire (RMQ), the FAB-Phys questionnaire (FABQ), and the SF-12 questionnaire were used to assess LBP, disability, fear avoidance beliefs, and quality of life in 661 institutionalized elderly in Spain, 439 of whom had LBP. RESULTS: In all subjects, FAB correlated with LBP (r = 0.477), disability (r = 0.458), the Physical Component Summary of SF-12 (PCS SF-12) (r = -0.389), and the Mental Component Summary of SF-12 (MCS SF-12) (r = -0.165). In subjects with LBP, FABs only correlated weakly with disability (r = -0.110). The stronger correlations were found between LBP and disability, both in all subjects (r = 0.803) and LBP patients (r = 0.445). Regression models including all the participants showed that the influence of FABs on physical quality of life was sparse and that FABs were not associated with either disability or mental quality of life. In elderly subjects with LBP, FABs were not associated with either disability or quality of life. CONCLUSION: In Spanish institutionalized elderly subjects, FABs only have a minor influence on physical quality of life, and none on disability or mental quality of life. In elderly subjects with LBP, differences in FABs are not associated with differences in disability or quality of life. Further studies should explore the potential value of FABs in the elderly in other settings.

Kovacs F, Abraira V, Muriel A, Corcoll J, Alegre L, Tomas M, Mir MA, Tobajas P, Gestoso M, Mufraggi N, Gil del Real MT, Zamora J. · Scientific Department, Fundación Kovacs, Madrid, Spain. · Spine (Phila Pa 1976). · Pubmed #17621209 No free full text.

Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort follow-up study. OBJECTIVES: To refine the indication criteria for neuroreflexotherapy (NRT) in the treatment of subacute and chronic neck (NP), thoracic (TP) and low back pain (LBP) in the Spanish National Health Service (SNHS), by identifying prognostic factors for clinical outcome. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: NRT consists of the temporary subcutaneous implantation of surgical devices in trigger points. Previous randomized controlled trials have shown its efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness for treating subacute and chronic LBP. Clinical audits in routine practice have shown similar results in NP, TP, and LBP patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All 1514 patients from the SNHS in the Balearic Islands in which a NRT intervention was performed and who were discharged between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005, were included in this study. Treatment failure was defined as a baseline score equivalent to or lower than the corresponding one at discharge for local pain, referred pain, or LBP-related disability. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed for each of those variables. Maximal models included reason for referral (NP, TP, or LBP), age, sex, baseline values for each variable, number of days in which the surgical devices used in NRT were left implanted, duration of the current episode, time elapsed since the first episode, and previous failed surgery for the current episode. Calibration of the models was assessed through the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, while discrimination was assessed through the area under the ROC curve and the Nagelkerke R test. RESULTS: When referred to NRT, patients' median (IQR) duration of the episode was 210 (90, 730) days. Failure rates ranged between 9.9% for local pain and 14.5% for disability. Variables associated with a worst prognosis for local pain, referred pain, and disability were surgical devices remaining implanted for a shorter duration and, especially, a longer pain duration. Patients referred for NP were more likely to improve than those referred for TP or LBP. Regarding the evolution of local and referred pain, lesser improvement was observed in the least severe complaint at baseline. Models showed a good calibration. The area under the ROC curve ranged between 0.719 and 0.804, and R ranged between 0.101 and 0.255. CONCLUSION: A longer duration of the current episode is the worst detected prognostic factor for response to NRT, but prognostic models are inaccurate for predicting the clinical outcome of a given patient. In order to improve the success rate of this technology, these results only support earlier referral for patients complying with current indication criteria.

Kovacs F, Abraira V, Santos S, Díaz E, Gestoso M, Muriel A, Gil del Real MT, Mufraggi N, Noguera J, Zamora J, Anonymous00047. · Departamento Científico, Fundación Kovacs, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. · Spine (Phila Pa 1976). · Pubmed #17471084 No free full text.

Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Cluster randomized clinical trial. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of 2 minimal education programs for improving low back pain (LBP)-related disability in the elderly. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: No education program has shown effectiveness on low back pain (LBP)-related disability in the elderly. METHODS: A total of 129 nursing homes (6389 residents) in northern Spain were invited to participate in the study. The actual participants were 12 nursing homes randomly assigned to 3 groups and 661 subjects. An independent physician gave a 20-minute talk with slide projections summarizing the content of the Back Book (active management group), the Back Guide (postural hygiene group), and a pamphlet on cardiovascular health (controls). Disability was measured with the Roland-Morris questionnaire (RMQ). Blind assessments were performed before the intervention, and 30 and 180 days later. The effect of the intervention on disability was estimated by generalized mixed linear random effects models. RESULTS: Mean age of participants ranged between 79.9 and 81.2 years. Disability improved in all groups, but at the 30-day assessment the postural education group showed an additional improvement of 1.1 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-1.9), RMQ points and at the 180-day assessment the active education group an additional improvement of 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 0.6-3.4). In the subset of subjects with LBP when entering the study, postural education had no advantages over controls, while an additional improvement of 3.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.5- 4.5) RMQ points at the 180-day assessment was observed in the active education group. CONCLUSION: In institutionalized elderly, the handing out of the Back Book supported by a 20-minute group talk improves disability 6 months later, and is even more effective in those subjects with LBP.

Zamora J, Kovacs F, Abraira V, Fernández C, Lázaro P, Anonymous00074. · Unidad de Bioestadística Clínica, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, and EBM Spanish Research Network (G03/90), Madrid, Spain. · Qual Life Res. · Pubmed #17111230 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: We compared the quality of life perceived by patients with non-specific low back pain with that predicted by the social tariff of the Spanish version of EQ-5D questionnaire. METHODS: For each health state of the EQ-5D, an adjusted tariff for patients with back pain was obtained using a linear regression model in which the linear effect of the three levels of response for each of the five domains of the EQ-5D was assumed. These coefficients were compared with those obtained for the general Spanish population. In another model, equal in structure to the standard "Dolan N3" model, the linear effect of the five domains was not assumed. RESULTS: In 633 patients, 93 health states were recorded. Significant differences in the coefficients of self-care (p = 0.003) and the maximum level of severity in any dimension (p < 0.0001) were observed. The social tariff of the healthy population is different from the tariff of low back pain patients, with general population values being lower than those of patients, particularly in the 211 health states in which any dimension is at level 3. Weights of the different EQ-5D dimensions showed a non-linear effect on the patients' quality of life. CONCLUSION: Methods used to develop the social tariff for the Spanish version of EQ-5D were inadequate. In addition, this study shows that values given by the general population are different from those of low back pain patients, further confirming that the social tariff of EQ-5D should not be used with actual patients.

Kovacs F. · Spanish Back Pain Research Network. · Aust J Physiother. · Pubmed #15803613 links to  free full text

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Kovacs F, Gil del Real MT. · No affiliation provided · Med Clin (Barc). · Pubmed #11141408 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.