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

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

Outcomes	IFX group	Placebo group	All patients	p-value
Outcomes	n = 18	n = 17	n = 35	p-value
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

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

ISSN: 1478-6362