Multidisciplinary programme for failed back surgery syndrome.

ISRCTN ISRCTN21221956
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN21221956
Secondary identifying numbers 20/2011
Submission date
24/02/2019
Registration date
12/03/2019
Last edited
17/06/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Possible surgical criticisms to Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) onset have been outlined pre-operatively, intra-operatively, and postoperatively. Successful clinical results are expected by the appropriate treatment of these problems. However, authors suggested a role for multidisciplinary rehabilitation when specific reasons for persisting pain are absent, but disability, mood disorders, or maladaptive thoughts co-exist post-operatively. Despite multidisciplinary programmes based on exercises and cognitive-behavioural therapy being increasingly used in subjects with chronic low back pain, there are doubts about their clinical impact when conducted in FBSS populations as well as their long-term effects. Therefore, evidence is still required in defining the characteristics of exercises and cognitive-behavioural interventions. Hence, we decided to undertake this trial based on the premises above.

Who can participate?
Adults, both males and females.

What does the study involve?
An enriched programme incorporating multimodal exercises and CBT in comparison with general physiotherapy alone in the treatment of FBSS.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Clinically significant improvements in disability, pain, and quality of life. No side effects are expected.

Where is the study run from?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute of Lissone, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (Italy)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From the beginning of 2012 to the end of 2016.

Who is funding the study?
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute of Lissone, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (Italy)

Who is the main contact?
Marco Monticone, marco.monticone@unica.it

Contact information

Prof Marco Monticone
Scientific

Dept. Medical Sciences and Public Health - Faculty of Medicine - Cittadella Universitaria
S.S. 554
Bivio Monserrato - Sestu
Cagliari
09042
Italy

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-6526-888X
Phone +39.0706753109
Email marco.monticone@unica.it

Study information

Study designRandomised, parallel-group superiority-controlled trial.
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Scientific titleMultimodal exercises integrated with cognitive-behavioural therapy improve disability of subjects with failed back surgery syndrome: A randomized controlled trial with one-year follow-up.
Study objectivesA 10-week rehabilitation programme of multimodal exercises integrated with cognitive-behavioural therapy would induce clinically significant improvements in disability, pain, and quality of life in subjects with failed back surgery syndrome vs. general physiotherapy, and that these would be maintained at least one year.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 12/11/2011, Ethical Committee Salvatore Maugeri Foundation (Via Monsignor Ennio Bernasconi, 16, 20851 Lissone MB, Italy; +39 039 46571; marco.monticone@fsm.it), ref: 20
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedLumbar pain, with or without leg involvement, following lumbar surgery (failed back surgery syndrome).
InterventionExperimental group. Multimodal and task-oriented exercises and cognitive-behavioural therapy.
Control group. Passive spinal mobilisation, strengthening, muscle segmentary stretching, and postural control.

Randomization: the biostatistician randomized the subject to one of the two treatment programmes using a permuted-block randomization procedure. The list of treatment codes was previously generated and stored in Matlab and an automatic assignment system, also developed in Matlab, was used to conceal the allocation

The treatment programme took place at the outpatient rehabilitative gym at the hospital and was led by two physiatrists, a psychologist, and two equally-experienced physiotherapists.

During the treatment period, the questionnaires were administered by secretarial staff who checked them and returned any uncompleted part to the subjects for completion. At follow-ups, the patients were contacted personally by the same secretarial staff in order to ensure that the questionnaires were properly completed.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureDisability was assessed using the validated Italian version of the self-reported 10-item Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODI) at baseline, 10-weeks and 12-months.
Secondary outcome measures1. Kinesiophobia was assessed using the validated Italian 13-item version of the self-report Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) at baseline, 10-weeks and 12-months.
2. Catastrophising was evaluated by means of the 13-item validated Italian version of the self-reported Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS) at baseline, 10-weeks and 12-months.
3. Pain intensity was assessed using an 11-point numerical rating scale at baseline, 10-weeks and 12-months.
4. Quality of life was assessed using the Italian version of the self-report Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) at baseline, 10-weeks and 12-months.
5. Patient-rated efficacy of treatment using the Global Perceived Effect scale (GPE) at end of treatment.
Overall study start date31/10/2011
Completion date30/03/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants135
Total final enrolment130
Key inclusion criteria1. Presence of lumbar pain, with or without leg involvement, following lumbar surgery
2. Lumbar surgery occurred once or more, being within the first (if more interventions, in the last) postoperative year
3. Good understanding of Italian
4. Age of >18 years
5. Expert spinal surgeons confirmed the accuracy of their pre-op diagnoses and excluded new surgical indications for pain persistence, such as the presence of residual lumbar foraminal and/or central stenosis, residual painful disc, epidural fibrosis, improper screw placement, non-union or abnormal motion at a fusion level, before sending for conservative treatment.
Key exclusion criteria1. Cognitive impairment (MMSE<24)
2. Specific causes of LBP, such as deformity, infection, fracture or malignancy, unstable cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, and systemic or neuromuscular diseases, ruled out by means of case histories and imaging.
3. Previously received workers’ compensation
4. Previously received CBT
Date of first enrolment01/01/2012
Date of final enrolment31/12/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Italy

Study participating centre

Scientific Institute of Lissone
Via Monsignor Bernasconi, 16
Lissone (Monza Brianza)
20851
Italy

Sponsor information

Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri
Hospital/treatment centre

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit
Scientific Institute of Lissone
Via Monsignor Bernasconi 16
Lissone (MB)
20851
Italy

Phone +39.0706753109
Email marco.monticone@unica.it
Website www.fsm.it
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00mc77d93

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute of Lissone, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPeer-reviewed journals with special interest to spinal disorders.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request

Editorial Notes

17/06/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The funder name has been changed from "Università degli Studi di Cagliari" to "FPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute of Lissone, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri" and the funder type has been changed from "University/education" to "Hospital/treatment centre".
2. The sponsor name has been changed from "Dept. Medical Science and Public Health - Faculty of Medicine" to "Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri" and the sponsor contact details have been updated to reflect this change.
3. The plain English summary has been updated to reflect the changes above.
10/06/2020: Added total final enrolment.
04/03/2019: Trial’s existence confirmed by IRB