Clinical Indicators to Identify Neuropathic Pain in Low Back-related Leg Pain: Protocol for a Modified Delphi Study

Overview

Journal BMJ Open

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2020 Feb 20

PMID 32071181

Citations 4

Authors

Jai Mistry

Deborah Falla

Tim Noblet

Nicola R Heneghan

Alison B Rushton

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Neuropathic low back-related leg pain (LBLP) can be a challenge to healthcare providers to diagnose and treat. Accurate diagnosis of neuropathic pain is fundamental to ensure appropriate intervention is given. However, to date there is no gold standard to diagnose neuropathic LBLP. A Delphi study will therefore be conducted to obtain an expert-derived consensus list of clinical indicators to identify a neuropathic component to LBLP.

Methods/analysis: Included participants will be considered experts within the field as measured against a predefined eligibility criterion. Through an iterative multistage process, participants will rate their agreement with a list of clinical indicators and suggest any missing clinical indicators during each round. Agreement will be measured using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics will be used to measure agreement; median, IQR and percentage of agreement. A priori consensus criteria will be defined for each round. Data analysis at the end of round three will enable a list of clinical indicators to be derived.

Ethics And Dissemination: Ethical approval was gained from the University of Birmingham (ERN_19-1142). On completion of the study, findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences.

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Axially Loaded Magnetic Resonance Imaging Identification of the Factors Associated with Low Back-Related Leg Pain.

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Clinical indicators to identify neuropathic pain in low back related leg pain: a modified Delphi study.

Mistry J, Falla D, Noblet T, Heneghan N, Rushton A BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020; 21(1):601.

PMID: 32900367 PMC: 7487834. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-020-03600-y.

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