Radiotherapy for chronic low back pain -: Results of a prospective randomised investigation

Aim of study: A low-dose radiotherapy with 5 Gy on the lumbar spine in patients with chronic low back pain was investigated. Method: 31 patients with non-radicular low back pain since three years at the age of at least 50 years (64.3 years on average) were treated. A psychosomatic etiology of pain was excluded. 5,Gy or 0.5 Gy (placebo dose) were applied in five fractions to the lumbar spine including the facet joints. The pain was evaluated by means of the Oswestry-Disability-Score before, six weeks after therapy, and every three months during the follow-up (22.4 months on average). Drug therapy, physiotherapy, and physical treatment were continued. Results: According to the randomised distribution, 18 patients were treated with 5 Gy and 13 patients with 0.5 Gy. The Friedman-Test did not reveal any significant difference (p>0.05) of the Oswestry-Disability-Index before and after therapy for both single questions and the sum of questions in both groups. Conclusion: No significant decrease of the Disability Index after radiotherapy on the lumbar spine with 5 Gy could be demonstrated in the verum and placebo group. The authors do not recommend radiotherapy in cases of chronic low back pain. Individual successes have to be attributed to conservative treatment or placebo effects.