Reliability of Quantitative Sensory Tests in a Low Back Pain Population

P.H. VUILLEUMIER; J.A. BIURRUN MANRESA; Y. GHAMRI; S. MLEKUSCH; A. SIEGENTHALER; L. ARENDT-NIELSEN; M. CURATOLO

REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MEDICINE

W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC

Lugar: Philadelphia; Año: 2015

1098-7339

Background and Objectives: Reliability is an essential condition for using quantitative sensory tests (QST) in research and clinical practice, but information on reliability in chronic pain patients is sparse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of different QST in chronic low back pain patients.Methods:Eighty-nine patients with chronic low back pain participated in two identical experimental sessions, separated by at least 7 days. The following parameters were recorded: pressure pain detection and tolerance thresholds at the toe, electrical pain thresholds to single and repeated stimulation, heat pain detection and tolerance thresholds at the arm and leg, cold pain detection threshold at the arm and leg, and conditioned pain modulation using the cold pressor test.Reliability was analyzed using the coefficient of variation, the coefficient of repeatability, and the intra-class correlation coefficient. It was judged as acceptable or not based primarily on the analysis of the coefficient of repeatability.Results:The reliability of most tests was acceptable. Exceptions were cold pain detection thresholds at the leg and arm. Conclusion:Most QST measurements have acceptable reliability in chronic low back pain patients.