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Treatment of 94 Outpatients With Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain with the DRX9000: A Retrospective Chart Review

  1. Alex Macario MD, MBA1,*,
  2. Charlotte Richmond PhD2,
  3. Martin Auster MD, MBA3,
  4. Joseph V. Pergolizzi MD4

Article first published online: 18 JAN 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2007.00167.x

Issue

Pain Practice

Pain Practice

Volume 8, Issue 1, pages 11–17, January/February 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Macario, A., Richmond, C., Auster, M. and Pergolizzi, J. V. (2008), Treatment of 94 Outpatients With Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain with the DRX9000: A Retrospective Chart Review. Pain Practice, 8: 11–17. doi: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2007.00167.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Departments of Anesthesia and Health Research & Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California;

  2. 2

    Biomedical Research & Education Foundation, LLC, Miami Beach, Florida;

  3. 3

    Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland,

  4. 4

    Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.

*Alex Macario MD, MBA, Professor of Anesthesia and Health Research & Policy, Department of Anesthesia H3580, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5640, U.S.A. Tel: +1 650 498 6810; E-mail: amaca@stanford.edu.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 JAN 2008
  2. Article first published online: 18 JAN 2008
  3. Submitted: July 10, 2007; Revision accepted: October 1, 2007

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Keywords:

  • chronic pain;
  • low back;
  • disc disease;
  • mechanical;
  • spinal decompression

▪ Abstract

Background:  This study's goal was a retrospective chart audit of 100 outpatients with discogenic low back pain (LBP) lasting more than 12 weeks treated with a 2-month course of motorized spinal decompression via the DRX9000 (Axiom Worldwide, Tampa, FL, U.S.A.).

Methods:  Patients at a convenience sample of four clinics received 30-minute DRX9000 sessions daily for the first 2 weeks tapering to 1 session/week. Treatment protocol included lumbar stretching, myofascial release, or heat prior to treatment, with ice and/or muscle stimulation afterwards. Primary outcome was verbal numerical pain intensity rating (NRS) 0 to 10 before and after the 8-week treatment.

Results:  Of the 100 initial subjects, three withdrew their protected health information, and three were excluded because their LBP duration was less than 12 weeks. The remaining 94 subjects (63% female, 95% white, age = 55 (SD 16) year, 52% employed, 41% retired, LBP median duration of 260 weeks) had diagnoses of herniated disc (73% of patients), degenerative disc disease (68%), or both (27%). Mean NRS equaled 6.05 (SD 2.3) at presentation and decreased significantly to 0.89 (SD 1.15) at end of 8-week treatment (P < 0.0001). Analgesic use also appeared to decrease (charts with data = 20) and Activities of Daily Living improved (charts with data = 38). Follow-up (mean 31 weeks) on 29/94 patients reported mean 83% LBP improvement, NRS of 1.7 (SD 1.15), and satisfaction of 8.55/10 (median 9).

Conclusions:  This retrospective chart audit provides preliminary data that chronic LBP may improve with DRX9000 spinal decompression. Randomized double-blind trials are needed to measure the efficacy of such systems. ▪

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