@inproceedings{01GM2WFXAXF3XM9B6S60JGNSDY,
  abstract     = {{Introduction: Up to 37% of lumbar radiculopathy patients experience residual pain and disability following lumbar discectomy. Although it is assumed that dysfunctional pain processing may play a mechanistic role in symptom persistence, research in this area is lacking. Therefore, this study will evaluate pain processing in lumbar radiculopathy patients prior to and 3 months following
lumbar discectomy.
Methods: Lumbar radiculopathy patients (n = 122) scheduled for discectomy will be recruited through
Flemish hospitals. At follow-up, patients with ≥1.5/10 average pain intensity on a visual analogue scale and <20% improvement on the Oswestry Disability Index will be categorized as having residual complaints. These will be compared to matched patients without residual complaints and pain-free
controls. Pain sensitivity will be evaluated using Quantitative Sensory Testing including thermal, mechanical, and electrical perception and pain thresholds. Spinal modulation will be assessed
using nociceptive flexion reflex thresholds; pain facilitation by the presence of psychocognitive factors through questionnaires and temporal summation of mechanical stimuli and the NFR; and pain inhibition using a conditioned pain modulation paradigm.
Results: Not applicable.
Discussion: We hypothesize that pre-operative pain characteristics are predictive of residual complaints and that patients with residual complaints exhibit dysfunctional pain processing compared to individuals without residual complaints as expressed by impaired pain inhibition and enhanced spinal modulation, pain sensitivity and facilitation. The findings will provide the potential to identify patients at risk of poor surgical outcome and explore treatment strategies according to dysfunctions in pain processing.
Process evaluation: Currently recruiting and completing ethical committee applications for multicentric recruitment.
Keywords: Radiculopathy; discectomy; central sensitization; quantitative sensory testing; neuropathic pain}},
  author       = {{Van Oosterwijck, Sophie and Danneels, Lieven and Van Oosterwijck, Jessica}},
  booktitle    = {{PAIN PRACTICE}},
  issn         = {{1530-7085}},
  keywords     = {{Radiculopathy; discectomy; central sensitization; quantitative sensory testing; neuropathic pain}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{Maastricht, the Netherlands}},
  pages        = {{21--21}},
  publisher    = {{Pain Practice}},
  title        = {{Identifying pain generators and potentiators of residual complaints following lumbar discectomy : protocol of prospective cohort study}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}