Lumbar instrumented fusion compared with cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic back pain after previous surgery for disc herniation: A prospective randomized controlled study

Jens Ivar Brox*, Olav Reikerås, Øystein Nygaard, Roger Sørensen, Aage Indahl, Inger Holm, Anne Keller, Tor Ingebrigtsen, Oliver Grundnes, Johan Emil Lange, Astrid Friis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

245 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effectiveness of lumbar fusion for chronic low back pain after surgery for disc herniation has not been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of lumbar fusion with posterior transpedicular screws and cognitive intervention and exercises. Sixty patients aged 25-60 years with low back pain lasting longer than 1 year after previous surgery for disc herniation were randomly allocated to the two treatment groups. Experienced back surgeons performed transpedicular fusion. Cognitive intervention consisted of a lecture intended to give the patient an understanding that ordinary physical activity would not harm the disc and a recommendation to use the back and bend it. This was reinforced by three daily physical exercise sessions for 3 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Outcome data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Ninety-seven percent of the patients, including seven of eight patients who had either not attended treatment (n = 5) or changed groups (n = 2), completed 1-year follow-up. ODI was significantly improved from 47 to 38 after fusion and from 45 to 32 after cognitive intervention and exercises. The mean difference between treatments after adjustment for gender was -7.3 (95% CI -17.3 to 2.7, p = 0.15). The success rate was 50% in the fusion group and 48% in the cognitive intervention/exercise group. For patients with chronic low back pain after previous surgery for disc herniation, lumbar fusion failed to show any benefit over cognitive intervention and exercises.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)145-155
Number of pages11
JournalPain
Volume122
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chronic low back pain
  • Cognitive intervention
  • Exercises
  • Posterior lumbar instrumented fusion
  • Previous discectomy
  • Randomized clinical trial

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