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Table 3 Overall prescription rate

From: Non-specific low back pain in primary care in the Spanish National Health Service: a prospective study on clinical outcomes and determinants of management

 

Acute n = 500

Subacute n = 118

Chronic n = 28

Medication prescribed at first visit, no (%)

459 (91.8)

111 (94.1)

22 (78.6)

   NSAIDs

287 (57.4)

69 (58.5)

13 (46.4)

   Analgesics

167 (33.4)

39 (33.1)

6 (21.4)

   Muscle relaxants

79 (15.8)

15 (12.7)

3 (10.7)

   Corticoids

18 (3.6)

3 (2.5)

0 (0.0)

   Gastric protectors

9 (1.8)

4(3.4)

1(3.6)

   Tranquilizers

23 (4.6)

5 (4.2)

2 (7.1)

   Other medication

23 (4.6)

4 (3.4)

1(3.6)

Procedures performed throughout the study, n (%)

   

SLR

351 (70.2)

74 (62.7)

13 (46.4)

Plain radiographs

193 (38.6)

66 (55.9)

18 (64.3)

CT or MRI scans

75 (15.0)

32 (27.1)

14 (50.0)

Neurophysiologic tests

12 (2.4)

5 (4.2)

4 (14.3)

Referral to rehabilitation or physical therapy

83 (16.6)

33 (28.0)

7 (25.0)

Referral to orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery

31 (6.2)

19 (16.1)

11 (39.3)

Sick leave

136 (50.6)*

25 (33.8)*

13 (59.1)*

  1. *Percentages refer to the 367 patients in a potentially active work situation, in which sick leave was possible.