Sensory Sensitivities in Failed Back Surgery Syndrome vs Low Back-Related Leg Pain

Detection sensitivity may be altered on the symptomatic side in patients with low back pain (LBP) with a dominant neuropathic pain component (ie, failed back surgery syndrome [FBSS]) compared with individuals with LBP with a primary nociceptive component (ie, low back-related leg pain [LBRLP]), according to study results published in Pain Medicine.

Studies in which the pain mechanisms and sensory dysfunction in individuals with LBP are examined often omit a subgroup of individuals with radicular pain, and comparisons of sensory sensitivities between patients with predominantly neuropathic vs nociceptive pain components are rare.

In the study, quantitative sensory testing (QST) was used to assess differences between patients with LBRLP and FBSS by evaluating electrical detection thresholds (EDTs), electrical pain thresholds (EPTs), and conditioned pain modulation (CPM). The investigators hypothesized that QST may discriminate between radicular neuropathic and nociceptive pain.

In this single-center cross-sectional observational study, 21 adults scheduled to undergo surgery for LBRLP (median age, 51 years; 52.4% women; 57.1% left-sided symptoms) and 21 patients with FBSS-related chronic LBP and leg pain (median age, 52 years; 71.4% women; 57.1% left-sided symptoms) were recruited between March 2016 and January 2018. Baseline data was obtained from two previous trials (Clinicaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT02630732 and NCT02751216). All study participants underwent bilateral EDTs and EPTs testing at the sural nerves and CPM testing on both legs with the cold pressor test and electrical stimulation during a single visit. Pain catastrophizing was evaluated using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS).

Pain catastrophizing was found to be higher in patients with FBSS vs LBRLP (median PCS scores, 37 vs 24, respectively; P =.028). EDTs and EPTs on either side were comparable in participants with FBSS and LBRLP. CPM was found to be lower on the nonsymptomatic side in patients with FBSS compared with individuals with LBRLP (0 vs 0.17, respectively; P =.04).

EDT was found to be higher on the symptomatic vs non-symptomatic side in individuals with FBSS (2.83 mA vs 2.17 mA, respectively; P =.01). No other significant within-group differences were detected. A positive correlation was established on the non-symptomatic side of participants with FBSS between pain catastrophizing and EDT (r = 0.52; P =.016) and between pain catastrophizing and EPT (r = 0.54; P =.011).

Study limitations include a small sample size, the lack of temporal summation testing, continuation of daily medications, and the sole use of electrical stimuli.

“Endogenous modulation is functioning in [patients with] LBP, although it is possible that it might only be functioning partially in patients with a dominant neuropathic pain component,” noted the authors. They recommended that future research use mechanical and thermal stimuli to establish a more robust QST profile.

Disclosures

Maarten Moens has received speaker fees from Medtronic and Nevro.

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Reference

Goudman L, Huysmans E, Coppieters I, et al. Electrical (pain) thresholds and conditioned pain modulation in patients with low back–related leg pain and patients with failed back surgery syndrome: a cross-sectional pilot study [published online June 5, 2019]. Pain Med. doi:10.1093/pm/pnz118