Open AccessEffect of age on outcomes after allogeneic disc tissue supplementation in patients with chronic discogenic low back pain in the VAST trial
Author(s) -
Corey Hunter,
Richard D. Guyer,
Mark I. Froimson,
Michael J. DePalma
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
pain management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1758-1877
pISSN - 1758-1869
DOI - 10.2217/pmt-2021-0078
Subject(s) - medicine , oswestry disability index , saline , placebo , low back pain , visual analogue scale , randomized controlled trial , degenerative disc disease , physical therapy , post hoc analysis , back pain , surgery , anesthesia , lumbar , alternative medicine , pathology
Aim: To explore the effects of viable allogeneic disc tissue supplementation in younger patients with discogenic chronic low back pain (CLBP). Patients & methods: VAST was a randomized placebo-controlled trial of disc allograft supplementation in 218 patients with discogenic CLBP. We conducted a post hoc analysis of change from baseline to 12 months in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale for pain intensity scores stratified by patient age. Results: Patients aged <42 years receiving allograft experienced greater improvement in ODI (p = 0.042) and a higher ODI response rate (≥10-, ≥15- and ≥20-point reductions in ODI) than those receiving saline (p = 0.001, p = 0.002 and p = 0.021, respectively). Conclusion: Young patients with discogenic CLBP may have significant functional improvement following nonsurgical disc allograft supplementation.