Clinical diagnostic model for sciatica developed in primary care patients with low back-related leg pain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Identification of sciatica may assist timely management but can be challenging in clinical practice. Diagnostic models to identify sciatica have mainly been developed in secondary care settings with conflicting reference standard selection. This study explores the challenges of reference standard selection and aims to ascertain which combination of clinical assessment items best identify sciatica in people seeking primary healthcare.

Methods

Data on 394 low back-related leg pain consulters were analysed. Potential sciatica indicators were seven clinical assessment items. Two reference standards were used: (i) high confidence sciatica clinical diagnosis; (ii) high confidence sciatica clinical diagnosis with confirmatory magnetic resonance imaging findings. Multivar

SUBMITTER: Stynes S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5886387 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature