The clinical value of a cluster of patient history and observational findings as a diagnostic support tool for lumbar spine stenosis.

dc.contributor.author

Cook, Chad

dc.contributor.author

Brown, Christopher

dc.contributor.author

Michael, Keith

dc.contributor.author

Isaacs, Robert

dc.contributor.author

Howes, Cameron

dc.contributor.author

Richardson, William

dc.contributor.author

Roman, Matthew

dc.contributor.author

Hegedus, Eric

dc.date.accessioned

2024-08-15T16:42:34Z

dc.date.available

2024-08-15T16:42:34Z

dc.date.issued

2011-09

dc.description.abstract

Objective

The study aims to create a diagnostic support tool to indicate the likelihood of the presence of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) using a cluster of elements from the patient history and observational findings.

Design

The study is case based and case controlled.

Setting

The study was performed in the tertiary care of a medical center.

Subjects

There were a total of 1,448 patients who presented with a primary complaint of back pain with or without leg pain.

Methods

All patients underwent a standardized clinical examination. The diagnosis of LSS was made by one of two experienced orthopaedic surgeons based on clinical findings and imaging. Data from the patient history and observational findings were then statistically analysed using bivariate analysis and contingency tables.

Results

The most diagnostic combination included a cluster of: 1) bilateral symptoms; 2) leg pain more than back pain; 3) pain during walking/standing; 4) pain relief upon sitting; and 5) age>48 years. Failure to meet the condition of any one of five positive examination findings demonstrated a high sensitivity of 0.96 (95% CI=0.94-0.97) and a low negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.19 (95% CI=0.12-0.29). Meeting the condition of four of five examination findings yielded a LR+ of 4.6 (95% CI=2.4-8.9) and a post-test probability of 76%.

Conclusion

The high sensitivity of the diagnostic support tool provides the potential to reduce the incidence of unnecessary imaging when the diagnosis of LSS is statistically unlikely. In patients where the condition of four of the five findings was present, the post-test probability of 76% suggests that imaging and further workup are indicated. This is an inexpensive but powerful tool, with a potential to increase diagnostic efficiency and reduce cost by narrowing the indications for imaging.
dc.identifier.issn

1358-2267

dc.identifier.issn

1471-2865

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/31399

dc.language

eng

dc.publisher

Wiley

dc.relation.ispartof

Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy

dc.relation.isversionof

10.1002/pri.500

dc.rights.uri

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

dc.subject

Lumbar Vertebrae

dc.subject

Humans

dc.subject

Spinal Stenosis

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Back Pain

dc.subject

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Medical History Taking

dc.subject

Gait

dc.subject

Health Status Indicators

dc.subject

Cluster Analysis

dc.subject

Sensitivity and Specificity

dc.subject

Aged

dc.subject

Middle Aged

dc.subject

Female

dc.subject

Male

dc.title

The clinical value of a cluster of patient history and observational findings as a diagnostic support tool for lumbar spine stenosis.

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Cook, Chad|0000-0001-8622-8361|0000-0002-5045-3281

pubs.begin-page

170

pubs.end-page

178

pubs.issue

3

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

pubs.organisational-group

School of Medicine

pubs.organisational-group

Basic Science Departments

pubs.organisational-group

Clinical Science Departments

pubs.organisational-group

Institutes and Centers

pubs.organisational-group

Orthopaedic Surgery

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Clinical Research Institute

pubs.organisational-group

University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

pubs.organisational-group

University Institutes and Centers

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Global Health Institute

pubs.organisational-group

Initiatives

pubs.organisational-group

Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical Therapy

pubs.organisational-group

Neurosurgery

pubs.organisational-group

Population Health Sciences

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

16

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