Purpose: Identify patients with low back pain who likely will respond favorably to mechanical lumbar traction.
Rule:
1. FABQ-W score less than 21
2. No neurological deficit involvement
3. Age older than 30
4. Non-manual work job status
| Item | 3+ variable | 4 variables |
| SN | 0.76 | 0.36 |
| SP | 0.75 | 0.96 |
| +LR | 3.0 | 9.4 |
| -LR | ||
| POS | 42% | 69% |
SN = sensitivity – ‘SnOut’ helps rule out a disease (higher number is better – >0.9 is excellent)
SP = Specificity – ‘SpIn’ helps rule in a disease (higher number is better – greater than 0.90 is excellent))
+LR = positive likelihood ratio – ratio of positive test results in a patients with the pathology (true positives) higher number is better (> 10 is excellent)
-LR = negative likelihood ratio – ratio of negative test results in a patients with the pathology (false negatives) lower number is better (< 0.1 is excellent)
POS = Probability of success – positive treatment outcome
References:
1. Cai C, et al. A clinical prediction rule for classifying patients with low back pain who demonstrate short-term improvement with mechanical lumbar traction. Eur Spine J. 2009; 18(4): 554-61.
2. Fritz JM, et al. Is there a subgroup of patients with low back pain likely to benefit from mechanical traction? Results of a randomized clinical trial and subgrouping analysis. Spine. 2007; 32(26): E793-800
