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Table 2 Change in radicular pain at days 0 and 10 after injection

From: Tumor necrosis factor-α blockade in recurrent and disabling chronic sciatica associated with post-operative peridural lumbar fibrosis: results of a double-blind, placebo randomized controlled study

Outcomes

IFX group

Placebo group

All patients

p-value

n = 18

n = 17

n = 35

Day 0 after injection

 Absolute VAS change, median (IQR)

−26.8 (–54.8 to –14.3)

−56.7 (–73.3 to –28.6)

−36.0 (–72.3 to –14.3)

0.22

 50 % reduction in sciatica pain, n (%)

5 (27.8)

9 (52.9)

14 (40.0)

0.13

 PASS <40 mm, n (%)

5 (27.8)

12 (70.6)

17 (48.6)

0.01*

 MCII ≥15 mm, n (%)

12 (66.7)

13 (76.5)

25 (71.4)

0.52

 MCII ≥20 %, n (%)

11 (61.1)

13 (76.5)

24 (68.6)

0.33

Day 10 after injection

 Absolute VAS change, median (IQR)

−14.9 (–50.0 to 3.3)

0.0 (–30.9 to 10.0)

−9.2 (–38.5 to 9.1)

0.21

 50 % reduction in sciatica pain, n (%)

5 (27.8)

3 (17.6)

8 (22.9)

0.69

 PASS <40 mm, n (%)

4 (22.2)

4 (23.5)

8 (22.9)

0.94

 MCII ≥15 mm, n (%)

9 (50.0)

5 (29.4)

14 (40.0)

0.21

 MCII ≥20 %, n (%)

8 (44.4)

5 (29.4)

13 (37.1)

0.36

  1. *p <0.05 comparing IFX and placebo groups by Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables and Fisher’s exact test for qualitative variables
  2. IFX Infliximab, IQR Interquartile range, MCII Minimum Clinically Important Improvement, n Absolute frequency, PASS Patient Acceptable Symptom State, VAS Visual analog scale