ArticleThe spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society2018
Prognosis of sciatica and back-related leg pain in primary care: the ATLAS cohort.
Article in The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 93 citations in OpenAlex.
- Genome-wide meta-analysis conducted in three large biobanks expands the genetic landscape of lumbar disc herniations.Nature communications · 2024Pooled it
- Are combined conservative interventions effective in reducing pain, disability and/or global rating of pain in people with sciatica with known neuropathic pain mechanisms?European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2024Pooled it
- Management of low back pain and lumbosacral radicular syndrome: the Guideline of the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF).European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine · 2024Guideline
- Prognostic factors associated with outcome following an epidural steroid injection for disc-related sciatica: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023Pooled it
- How effective are physiotherapy interventions in treating people with sciatica? A systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2023Pooled it
- Supported biopsychosocial self-management for back-related leg pain: a randomized feasibility study integrating a whole person perspective.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2025Trial
- Cost-effectiveness of Transforaminal epidural steroid injections for patients with ACUTE sciatica: a randomized controlled trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Trial
- Effectiveness of Epidural Steroid Injection Depending on Discoradicular Contact: A Prospective Randomized Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Trial
- Effectiveness of stratified treatment for back pain in Danish primary care: A randomized controlled trial.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2021Trial
- Trial
- Physical Therapy Referral From Primary Care for Acute Back Pain With Sciatica : A Randomized Controlled Trial.Annals of internal medicine · 2021Trial
- Stratified versus usual care for the management of primary care patients with sciatica: the SCOPiC RCT.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2020Trial
- Letter to the Editor Regarding "Epidural Transforaminal Infraneural Infiltration Using Corticosteroids in Lumbar Radiculopathy" by Sampaio Júnior et al.International journal of spine surgery · 2026Article
- Homeostasis after injury: How intertwined inference and control underpin post-injury pain and behaviour.PLoS computational biology · 2026Article
- The Optimal Patient Profile and Appropriate Role of Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) for Patients with Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome-Type 1 (PSPS-T1) Not Suitable for Spine Surgery: A European Modified Delphi Consensus.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
- Acupuncture Therapy for Sciatica: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.Journal of pain research · 2025Review
- Article
- Predictors of outcome following an epidural steroid injection for disc-related sciatica: a Delphi consensus study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2024Article
- Prevalence of weakness and factors mediating discrepancy between reported and observed leg weakness in people with sciatica.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2024Article
- The association of the STarT Back Screening Tool and type of leg pain with low back pain disability trajectories: a prospective cohort study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
background contextEvidence is lacking on the prognosis and prognostic factors of back-related leg pain and sciatica in patients seeing their primary care physicians. This evidence could guide timely appropriate treatment and referral decisions. PURPOSE: The present study aims to describe the prognosis and prognostic factors in primary care patients with low back-related leg pain and sciatica. STUDY
designThis is a prospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE: The present study included adults visiting their family doctor with back-related leg pain in the United Kingdom. OUTCOME MEASURES: Information about pain, function, psychological, and clinical variables, was collected. Good outcome was defined as 30% or more reduction in disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire).
methodsParticipants completed the questionnaires, underwent clinical assessments, received a magnetic resonance imaging scan, and were followed-up 12 months later. Mixed-effects logistic regression evaluated the prognostic value of six a priori defined variable sets (leg pain duration, pain intensity, neuropathic pain, psychological factors, clinical examination, and imaging variables). A combined model, including variables from all models, examined independent effects. The National Institute for Health Research funded the study. There are no conflicts of interest.
resultsA total of 609 patients were included. At 12 months, 55% of patients improved in both the total sample and the sciatica group. For the whole cohort, longer leg pain duration (odds ratio [OR] 0.41; confidence interval [CI] 0.19-0.90), higher identity score (OR 0.70; CI 0.53-0.93), and patient's belief that the problem will last a long time (OR 0.27; CI 0.13-0.57) were the strongest independent prognostic factors negatively associated with improvement. These last two factors were similarly negatively associated with improvement in the sciatica subgroup.
conclusionsThe present study provides new evidence on the prognosis and prognostic factors of back-related leg pain and sciatica in primary care. Just over half of patients improved at 12 months. Patient's belief of recovery timescale and number of other symptoms attributed to the pain are independent prognostic factors. These factors can be used to inform and direct decisions about timing and intensity of available therapeutic options.
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