The ODI remains a valid and vigorous measure and has been a worthwhile outcome measure .
The behavior of the instrument is incompletely understood , particularly in sensitivity to real change .
The Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) has become one of the principal condition-specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders .
To review the versions of this instrument , document methods by which it has been vali date d , collate data from scores found in normal and back pain population s , provide curves for power calculations in studies using the ODI , and maintain the ODI as a gold st and ard outcome measure .
It has now been 20 years since its original publication .
Prospective, Multicenter Study of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Relief of Chronic Back and Extremity Pain
Study Design This prospect i ve , multicenter study was design ed to investigate the efficacy and outcome of spinal cord stimulation using a variety of clinical and psychosocial outcome measures . Data were collected before implantation and at regular intervals after implantation . This report focuses on 70 patients who had undergone 1 year of follow‐up treatment at the time of data analysis . Objectives To provide a more generalizable assessment of long‐term spinal cord stimulation outcome by comparing a variety of pain and functional/ quality ‐of‐life measures before and after management . This report details results after 1 year of stimulation . Summary of Background Data The historically diverse methods , patient selection criteria , and outcome measures reported in the spinal cord stimulation literature have made interpretation and comparison of results difficult . Although short‐term outcomes are generally consistent , long‐term outcomes of spinal cord stimulation , as determined by prospect i ve studies that assess multidimensional aspects of the pain complaint among a relatively homogeneous population , are not well established . Methods Two hundred nineteen patients were entered at six centers throughout the United States . All patients underwent a trial of stimulation before implant of the permanent system .  Most were psychologically screened . One hundred eighty‐two patients were implanted with a permanent stimulating system .  At the time of this report , complete 1‐year follow‐up data were available on 70 patients , 86 % of whom reported pain in the back or lower extremities . Patient evaluation of pain and functional levels was completed before implantation and 3 , 6 , 12 , and 24 months after implantation . Complications , medication usage , and work status also were monitored . Results All pain and quality ‐of‐life measures showed statistically significant improvement during the treatment year . These included the average pain visual analogue scale , the McGill Pain Question naire , the Oswestry Disability Question naire , the Sickness Impact Profile , and the Beck Depression Inventory . Overall success of the therapy was defined as at least 50 % pain relief and patient assessment of the procedure as fully or partially beneficial and worthwhile . Using this definition , spinal cord stimulation successfully managed pain in 55 % of patients on whom 1‐year follow‐up is available . Complications requiring surgical intervention were reported by 17 % ( 12 of 70 ) of patients . Medication usage and work status were not changed significantly . Conclusions This prospect i ve , multicenter study confirms that spinal cord stimulation can be an effective therapy for management of chronic low back and extremity pain . Significant improvements in many aspects of the pain condition were measured , and complications were minimal
The ODI remains a valid and vigorous measure and has been a worthwhile outcome measure .
The behavior of the instrument is incompletely understood , particularly in sensitivity to real change .
The Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) has become one of the principal condition-specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders .
To review the versions of this instrument , document methods by which it has been vali date d , collate data from scores found in normal and back pain population s , provide curves for power calculations in studies using the ODI , and maintain the ODI as a gold st and ard outcome measure .
It has now been 20 years since its original publication .