Brief Summary
This is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study comparing two different treatments for acute low back pain: oral ibuprofen and topical diclofenac. Participants will be randomized to one of three study arms: 1) Oral ibuprofen + topical diclofenac; 2) Oral ibuprofen + topical placebo; 3) Oral placebo + topical diclofenac. Outcomes will be determined at 48 hours (2 days) and 7 days later.
Brief Title
Acute Low Back Pain. Topical Diclofenac and Oral Ibuprofen.
Categories
Completion Date
Completion Date Type
Actual
Conditions
Low Back Pain
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Present to Emergency Department (ED) primary for management of Low Back Pain (LBP), defined as pain originating between the lower border of the scapulae and the upper gluteal folds. Flank pain, that is pain originating from tissues lateral to the paraspinal muscles, will not be included.
* Musculoskeletal etiology of low back. Patients with non-musculoskeletal etiologies such as urinary tract infection, ovarian cysts, or influenza like illness will be excluded. The primary clinical diagnosis, at the conclusion of the ED visit, must be a diagnosis consistent with non-traumatic, non-radicular, musculoskeletal LBP.
* Patient is to be discharged home.
* Age 18-69. Enrollment will be limited to adults younger than 70 years because of the increased risk of adverse medication effects in the elderly.
* Non-radicular pain. Patients will be excluded if the pain radiates below the gluteal folds in a radicular pattern.
* Pain duration \<2 weeks (336 hours).
* Prior to the acute attack of LBP, back pain must occur less frequently than once per month.
* Non-traumatic LBP: no substantial and direct trauma to the back within the previous month
* Functionally impairing back pain: A baseline score of \> 5 on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire
Exclusion Criteria:
* Not available for follow-up
* Pregnant
* Any analgesic medication use on a daily or near-daily basis
* Allergic to or intolerant of investigational medications
* Open wounds or skin breakdown of the lower back
* Contra-indications to investigational medications: 1) known peptic ulcer disease, chronic dyspepsia, or history of gastrointestinal bleed 2) Severe heart failure (NYHA 2 or worse) 3) Chronic kidney disease (GFR \<60ml/min) 4) Current use of anti-coagulants 5) cirrhosis (Child Pugh A or worse) or hepatitis (transaminases 2x the upper limit of normal)
* Present to Emergency Department (ED) primary for management of Low Back Pain (LBP), defined as pain originating between the lower border of the scapulae and the upper gluteal folds. Flank pain, that is pain originating from tissues lateral to the paraspinal muscles, will not be included.
* Musculoskeletal etiology of low back. Patients with non-musculoskeletal etiologies such as urinary tract infection, ovarian cysts, or influenza like illness will be excluded. The primary clinical diagnosis, at the conclusion of the ED visit, must be a diagnosis consistent with non-traumatic, non-radicular, musculoskeletal LBP.
* Patient is to be discharged home.
* Age 18-69. Enrollment will be limited to adults younger than 70 years because of the increased risk of adverse medication effects in the elderly.
* Non-radicular pain. Patients will be excluded if the pain radiates below the gluteal folds in a radicular pattern.
* Pain duration \<2 weeks (336 hours).
* Prior to the acute attack of LBP, back pain must occur less frequently than once per month.
* Non-traumatic LBP: no substantial and direct trauma to the back within the previous month
* Functionally impairing back pain: A baseline score of \> 5 on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire
Exclusion Criteria:
* Not available for follow-up
* Pregnant
* Any analgesic medication use on a daily or near-daily basis
* Allergic to or intolerant of investigational medications
* Open wounds or skin breakdown of the lower back
* Contra-indications to investigational medications: 1) known peptic ulcer disease, chronic dyspepsia, or history of gastrointestinal bleed 2) Severe heart failure (NYHA 2 or worse) 3) Chronic kidney disease (GFR \<60ml/min) 4) Current use of anti-coagulants 5) cirrhosis (Child Pugh A or worse) or hepatitis (transaminases 2x the upper limit of normal)
Inclusion Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Present to Emergency Department (ED) primary for management of Low Back Pain (LBP), defined as pain originating between the lower border of the scapulae and the upper gluteal folds. Flank pain, that is pain originating from tissues lateral to the paraspinal muscles, will not be included.
* Musculoskeletal etiology of low back. Patients with non-musculoskeletal etiologies such as urinary tract infection, ovarian cysts, or influenza like illness will be excluded. The primary clinical diagnosis, at the conclusion of the ED visit, must be a diagnosis consistent with non-traumatic, non-radicular, musculoskeletal LBP.
* Patient is to be discharged home.
* Age 18-69. Enrollment will be limited to adults younger than 70 years because of the increased risk of adverse medication effects in the elderly.
* Non-radicular pain. Patients will be excluded if the pain radiates below the gluteal folds in a radicular pattern.
* Pain duration \<2 weeks (336 hours).
* Prior to the acute attack of LBP, back pain must occur less frequently than once per month.
* Non-traumatic LBP: no substantial and direct trauma to the back within the previous month
* Functionally impairing back pain: A baseline score of \> 5 on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire
* Present to Emergency Department (ED) primary for management of Low Back Pain (LBP), defined as pain originating between the lower border of the scapulae and the upper gluteal folds. Flank pain, that is pain originating from tissues lateral to the paraspinal muscles, will not be included.
* Musculoskeletal etiology of low back. Patients with non-musculoskeletal etiologies such as urinary tract infection, ovarian cysts, or influenza like illness will be excluded. The primary clinical diagnosis, at the conclusion of the ED visit, must be a diagnosis consistent with non-traumatic, non-radicular, musculoskeletal LBP.
* Patient is to be discharged home.
* Age 18-69. Enrollment will be limited to adults younger than 70 years because of the increased risk of adverse medication effects in the elderly.
* Non-radicular pain. Patients will be excluded if the pain radiates below the gluteal folds in a radicular pattern.
* Pain duration \<2 weeks (336 hours).
* Prior to the acute attack of LBP, back pain must occur less frequently than once per month.
* Non-traumatic LBP: no substantial and direct trauma to the back within the previous month
* Functionally impairing back pain: A baseline score of \> 5 on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire
Gender
All
Gender Based
false
Healthy Volunteers
No
Last Update Post Date
Last Update Post Date Type
Actual
Last Update Submit Date
Maximum Age
69 Years
Minimum Age
18 Years
NCT Id
NCT04611529
Org Class
Other
Org Full Name
Montefiore Medical Center
Org Study Id
2020-12418
Overall Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Primary Completion Date
Primary Completion Date Type
Actual
Official Title
A Randomized Study of Topical Diclofenac Versus Oral Ibuprofen for Acute Non-radicular Low Back Pain
Primary Outcomes
Outcome Description
Change in Pain Disability was assessed using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). The RMDQ is a 24-item self-report 'Yes/no' instrument about how low-back pain affects functional activities. Each question is worth one point so scores can range from 0 (no disability) to 24 (severe disability). Change in RMDQ was measured by calculating: 'Baseline RMDQ score - RMDQ Score at 2-day (48 hour) follow-up' with positive scores being indicative of improvement (less pain disability).
Outcome Measure
Change in Pain Disability - Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) Score
Outcome Time Frame
Baseline to 48 hours
Secondary Outcomes
Outcome Description
Worst low back was evaluated by asking patients "How would you describe your worst low back pain in the last 24 hours?" Patients were asked to describe their worst LBP using the terms "Severe", "Moderate", "Mild", or "None". Counts of participants reporting each degree of severity over the prior 24 hours are summarized.
Outcome Time Frame
48 hours
Outcome Measure
Worst Low Back Pain (LBP)
Outcome Description
Participants were asked "During the last 24 hours, have you taken any medication at all for low back pain?" and asked to respond either "Yes" or "No". Counts of participants using medication during the prior 24 hours are summarized.
Outcome Time Frame
48 hours
Outcome Measure
Use of Medication for Low Back Pain (LBP)
Outcome Description
Frequency of Low Back Pain will be evaluated by asking patients "Over the last 24 hours, how often were you in pain?" Patients will be asked to respond to the frequency of their LBP over the prior 24 hours based on a 5-point Likert scale consisting of "Not at all", "Rarely", "Sometimes", "Usually", or "Always". This question will help determine the burdensomeness of the LBP in the patient's daily life. Counts of participants reporting each frequency will be summarized.
Outcome Time Frame
48 hours
Outcome Measure
Frequency of Low Back Pain (LBP)
Outcome Description
The percentage of patients who were able to return to usual activities following treatment will be quantified by asking patients to provide a binary "Yes" or "No" response to a question of whether they were able to return to day-to-day activities. Results will be summarized by treatment group.
Outcome Time Frame
48 hours
Outcome Measure
Return to Usual Activities
Outcome Description
The number of visits to any healthcare provider will be determined by asking patients whether they had any planned or emergent inpatient or outpatient visits to any healthcare provider for any reason during the course of the study. Group mean results will be summarized by treatment group.
Outcome Time Frame
48 hours
Outcome Measure
Number of Visits to Any Healthcare Provider
Outcome Description
Patient satisfaction with the treatment they received will be assessed by their response to a binary "Yes" or "No" question regarding satisfaction with their treatment. Results will be summarized by treatment group.
Outcome Time Frame
48 hours
Outcome Measure
Treatment Satisfaction
Outcome Description
Change in Pain Disability was assessed using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). The RMDQ is a 24-item self-report questionnaire about how low-back pain affects functional activities. Each question is worth one point so scores can range from 0 (no disability) to 24 (severe disability). Change in RMDQ was measured by calculating: 'Baseline RMDQ score - RMDQ Score at 7-day follow-up with positive scores being indicative of improvement (less pain disability).
Outcome Time Frame
7 days
Outcome Measure
Change in Pain Disability - Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) Score
Outcome Description
Worst low back was evaluated by asking patients "How would you describe your worst low back pain in the last 24 hours?" Patients were asked to describe their worst LBP using the terms "Severe", "Moderate", "Mild", or "None". Counts of participants reporting each degree of severity over the prior 24 hours are summarized.
Outcome Time Frame
7 days
Outcome Measure
Worst Low Back Pain (LBP)
Outcome Description
Participants were asked "During the last 24 hours, have you taken any medication at all for low back pain?" and asked to respond either "Yes" or "No". Counts of participants using medication during the prior 24 hours are summarized.
Outcome Time Frame
7 days
Outcome Measure
Use of Medication for Low Back Pain (LBP)
Outcome Description
Frequency of Low Back Pain will be evaluated by asking patients "Over the last 24 hours, how often were you in pain?" Patients will be asked to respond to the frequency of their LBP over the prior 24 hours based on a 5-point Likert scale consisting of "Not at all", "Rarely", "Sometimes", "Usually", or "Always". This question will help determine the burdensomeness of the LBP in the patient's daily life. Counts of participants reporting each frequency will be summarized.
Outcome Time Frame
7 days
Outcome Measure
Frequency of Low Back Pain
Outcome Description
The percentage of patients who were able to return to usual activities following treatment will be quantified by asking patients to provide a binary "Yes" or "No" response to a question of whether they were able to return to day-to-day activities. Results will be summarized by treatment group.
Outcome Time Frame
7 days
Outcome Measure
Return to Usual Activities
Outcome Description
The number of visits to any healthcare provider will be determined by asking patients whether they had any planned or emergent inpatient or outpatient visits to any healthcare provider for any reason during the course of the study. Group mean results will be summarized by treatment group.
Outcome Time Frame
7 days
Outcome Measure
Number of Visits to Any Healthcare Provider
Outcome Description
Patient satisfaction with the treatment they received will be assessed by their response to a binary "Yes" or "No" question regarding satisfaction with their treatment. Results will be summarized by treatment group.
Outcome Time Frame
7 days
Outcome Measure
Treatment Satisfaction
Start Date
Start Date Type
Actual
Status Verified Date
First Post Date
First Post Date Type
Actual
First Submit Date
First Submit QC Date
Std Ages
Adult
Older Adult
Maximum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
69
Minimum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
18
Investigators
Investigator Type
Principal Investigator
Investigator Name
Benjamin Friedman
Investigator Email
befriedm@montefiore.org
Investigator Phone
646-265-6415