Identifying neuropathic pain among patients with chronic low-back pain: use of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale

Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2005 Sep-Oct;30(5):422-8. doi: 10.1016/j.rapm.2005.05.013.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Although the literature contains information about prevalence and incidence of low-back pain (LBP), little information is available about the contribution of the neuropathic element to LBP. Our study was designed to investigate the prevalence of neuropathic pain among a sample of chronic LBP patients in Saudi Arabia by use of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) pain scale.

Methods: A total of 1,169 patients from 117 centers agreed to participate in the study over a period of 6.5 months. The LANSS pain scale was applied to each patient in an interview format. The characteristics of pain and sensory dysfunction were tested and recorded.

Results: According to the LANSS pain scale, 639 patients (54.7%) had scores of 12 points or more, which suggested a neuropathic type of pain, and 530 patients (45.3%) had scores of less than 12, which suggested a nociceptive type of pain. Factors that are associated with neuropathic pain are advanced age, female gender, increased height, white race, hypertension and diabetes, a history of smoking, previous back surgery, and previous medications.

Conclusion: Neuropathic pain is a major contributor to chronic LBP, and the LANSS pain scale is a useful tool to distinguish patients with neuropathic pain from those with nociceptive pain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Chronic Disease
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain / diagnosis*
  • Low Back Pain / drug therapy
  • Low Back Pain / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Pain / diagnosis*
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / epidemiology
  • Pain Measurement / methods*
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology