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Intensive interdisciplinary outpatient pain management program for chronic back pain: a pilot study
Authors Artner J, Kurz, Cakir, Reichel, Lattig
Received 13 March 2012
Accepted for publication 18 April 2012
Published 3 July 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 209—216
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S31754
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 3
Juraj Artner, Stephan Kurz, Balkan Cakir, Heiko Reichel, Friederike Lattig
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ulm, RKU, Germany
Background: Chronic back pain is relatively resistant to unimodal therapy regimes. The aim of this study was to introduce and evaluate the short-term outcome of a three-week intensive multidisciplinary outpatient program for patients with back pain and sciatica, measured according to decrease of functional impairment and pain.
Methods: The program was designed for patients suffering from chronic back pain to provide intensive interdisciplinary therapy in an outpatient setting, consisting of interventional injection techniques, medication, exercise therapy, back education, ergotherapy, traction, massage therapy, medical training, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, aquatraining, and relaxation.
Results: Based on Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores, a significant improvement in pain intensity and functionality of 66.83% NRS and an ODI of 33.33% were achieved by our pain program within 3 weeks.
Conclusion: This paper describes the organization and short-term outcome of an intensive multidisciplinary program for chronic back pain on an outpatient basis provided by our orthopedic department, with clinically significant results.
Keywords: chronic back pain, intense, multidisciplinary, program, outpatient
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