Do Benzodiazepines Improve the Outcome of Mechanical Physiotherapy for Lumbar Disk Prolapse

University Hospital Tuebingen

Overview

Sixty patients were randomized to receive either placebo or diazepam in addition to mechanical physiotherapy and analgesics for the first 7 days of conservative treatment of clinically and radiologically confirmed lumbar disk prolapse

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Conditions

Pain Disability Paresis

Interventions

benzodiacepineDRUG

diazepam (2 x 5 mg/ die)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * sciatica without or with neurological deficit attributable to lumbar disc prolapse * CT or MRI confirmation of lumbar disc prolapse * informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * bladder or bowel disturbance * acute (\< 24 h) development of paresis grade 1 or plegia * taken benzodiazepines for more than 2 weeks * history of benzodiazepine intolerance * prior surgery for disc prolapse, or prior trauma to the vertrebral column

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

(i) median extent of reduction of referred pain

Time frame: 7 days

Secondary Outcomes

median duration of inability to work after discharge

Time frame: one year

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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