Risk Factors for Continued Opioid Use in Conservative Versus Surgical Management of Low Back Pain Originating From the Sacroiliac Joint

Abstract

Study Design: Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial. Objectives: To identify risk factors for continued opioid use after conservative management (CM) or minimally invasive surgical management (MISM) of low back pain (LBP) originating from the sacroiliac joint. Methods: Patients were randomized either to CM (n = 49) or MISM (n = 52). We documented opioid use, pain intensity (visual analogue scale [VAS]), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Zung depression score (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale) at baseline and at months 3 and 6 after treatment initiation. Results: Compared with opioid nonusers, opioid users at baseline had higher mean levels of disability (ODI 61.5, standard deviation [SD] 13.3 vs ODI 51.5, SD 12.8; P