Study Design.
Single blind
randomized study.
Objectives.
To compare the effectiveness of lumbar instrumented fusion with
cognitive intervention and
exercises in patients with
chronic low back pain and
disc degeneration.
Summary of Background Data.
To the authors’ best knowledge, only one
randomized study has evaluated the effectiveness of
lumbar fusion. The Swedish Lumbar Spine Study reported that
lumbar fusion was better than continuing physiotherapy and care by the family physician.
Patients and Methods.
Sixty-four patients aged 25–60 years with low back pain lasting longer than 1 year and evidence of
disc degeneration at L4–L5 and/or L5–S1 at radiographic examination were
randomized to either
lumbar fusion with posterior transpedicular screws and postoperative physiotherapy, or
cognitive intervention and
exercises. The
cognitive intervention consisted of a lecture 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 main outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Index.
Results.
At the 1-year follow-up visit, 97% of the patients, including 6 patients who had either not attended treatment or changed groups, were examined. The Oswestry Disability Index was significantly reduced from 41 to 26 after surgery, compared with 42 to 30 after
cognitive intervention and
exercises. The mean difference between groups was 2.3 (−6.7 to 11.4) (
P = 0.33). Improvements inback pain, use of analgesics, emotional distress, life satisfaction, and return to work were not different. Fear-avoidance beliefs and fingertip-floor distance were reduced more after nonoperative treatment, and lower limb pain was reduced more after surgery. The success rateaccording to an independent observer was 70% after surgery and 76% after
cognitive intervention and
exercises. The early complication rate in the surgical group was 18%.
Conclusion.
The main outcome measure showed equal improvement in patients with
chronic low back pain and
disc degeneration randomized to
cognitive intervention and
exercises, or
lumbar fusion.
