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Updated: May 6, 2026
A Protocol of Manual Tests to Measure Sensation and Pain in Humans
Published on: December 19, 2016
Reliability of PainDETECT for Evaluating Low Back Pain Caused by Cluneal Nerve Entrapment
Chiho Takada1, Kyongsong Kim2, Rinko Kokubo2
1Medical Student, Nippon Medical School.
Background:
Superior/middle cluneal nerve entrapment (CN-E) is an elicitor of low back pain (LBP). The painDETECT questionnaire is used to characterize CN-E symptoms.
Methods:
Nineteen consecutive patients with LBP caused by CN-E (superior CN-E = 7; middle CN-E = 12) participated in a Japanese language painDETECT questionnaire survey before surgery. A score of 12 or lower was recorded as 'neuropathic component unlikely', a score of 19 or higher as 'neuropathic pain likely', and scores between 13 and 18 as 'neuropathic pain possible'. LBP severity was recorded on a numerical rating scale, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and the EuroQol-5 dimension-5 level.
Results:
The mean painDETECT score was 11.8 and did not significantly differ between the superior CN-E and middle CN-E groups. We classified low back pain as unlikely to have a neuropathic component in 13 patients, as likely to have a neuropathic component in 2 patients, and as possibly neuropathic in 4 patients. There was no significant difference in the pain level of patients with scores of ≤12 and ≥13 on painDETECT. All patients reported trigger pain; the positive rate was high for electric shock pain, radiating pain, and pain attacks and low for a burning or tingling sensation, pain elicited by a light touch, and pain caused by cold or hot stimulation.
Conclusion:
The painDETECT questionnaire may not reliably identify LBP caused by superior/middle CN-E as neuropathic pain. A diagnosis of LBP due to CN-E must be made carefully because symptoms resemble nociceptive pain.
