Function After Spinal Treatment, Exercise and Rehabilitation: Improving the functional outcome of spinal surgery

ISRCTN ISRCTN46782945
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN46782945
Secondary identifying numbers M0671
Submission date
26/08/2004
Registration date
21/01/2005
Last edited
04/02/2016
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims.
Spinal stenosis is a degenerative disease that leads to pain in the back and leg, while disc prolapse is a more acute (severe and sudden) condition that causes leg pain. The diagnoses of these diseases are increasing, and consequently there is a steady rise in surgery for these conditions. There are large differences between surgeons in terms of the type and intensity of rehabilitation provided after spinal surgery, and in the restrictions suggested and advice given to patients. The success of spinal surgery varies widely, which may in part result from differences in management and rehabilitation after the operation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefits of a rehabilitation programme and an education booklet for the management of patients undergoing discectomy (for a disc prolapse) or lateral nerve root decompression (for spinal stenosis).

Who can participate?
Patients with low back and leg pain on the waiting list for spinal surgery.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into four groups, to receive rehabilitation, the booklet, both rehabilitation and the booklet, or usual care only. The rehabilitation consists of a 6-week programme involving aerobic fitness work, stretching, stability, strengthening and endurance, together with advice about daily activities and the development of skills in self-motivation and self-management. The booklet is designed to encourage a positive shift in beliefs and behaviours concerning pain, rehabilitation and self-management.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration

Where is the study run from?
Imperial College London (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2005 to March 2010

Who is funding the study?
Arthritis Research UK

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Alison McGregor

Contact information

Dr Alison Hazel McGregor
Scientific

Musculoskeletal Surgery
Imperial College London
Charing Cross Campus
London
W6 8RF
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Not specified
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleFunction After Spinal Treatment, Exercise and Rehabilitation: Improving the functional outcome of spinal surgery
Study acronymFASTER
Study objectivesAdded as of 26/06/2008:
The primary aim of this study is to determine if the long-term functional outcome of spinal surgery and patient satisfaction can be improved via either a systematic programme of post-operative rehabilitation or an educational booklet, and whether a combination of both is even more effective. The chief secondary objective is to assess whether such approaches are cost-effective.
Ethics approval(s)Hammersmith & Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Research Ethics Committee, ref: 04/Q0406/49
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSpinal lateral root stenosis and discectomy
InterventionCurrent interventions as of 26/06/2008:
Rehabilitation Programme:
Patients randomised to the rehabilitation arms of the study will commence the programme 6 to 8 weeks following surgery. The programme will run for 6 weeks with subjects attending for 1 hour twice a week. Classes will be held first thing in the morning or at the end of the working day to accommodate, where possible, those who have returned to work. The classes will be run by an experienced physiotherapist, who will encourage patients individually to progress at their own pace. This structure allows new patients to join the programme at any time rather than in ‘batches’. There will be a maximum of ten patients per class. As previously stated, attempts will be made to keep the patients randomised to the rehabilitation-only group in separate classes from those randomised to the rehabilitation-plus-booklet group.

Educational Booklet:
Therefore a ‘post-operative back book’ that has been developed, will be provided to those patients allocated to either the booklet-only group or the rehabilitation-plus-booklet group at discharge from hospital following their surgery. This resource was constructed with the aim of developing a patient centred, evidence-based booklet that spinal surgeons may give to their patients to reduce uncertainty and facilitate post-surgical management and recovery. The booklet thus aims to provide carefully selected messages that will lead to a positive shift in beliefs and behaviours concerning pain, rehabilitation and self-management during the post-surgical period.

Usual care:
Patients randomised to the usual care control group will be managed routinely in the post-operative period, according to the relevant surgeon’s usual practice. This is likely to consist of a follow-up outpatient appointment some weeks after surgery plus general advice about progressively increasing the range and demands of physical activity, but no systematic programme of assessment and rehabilitation. The post-operative regimes of each surgeon will be quantified to define the usual post-operative care strategy and patients will be questioned via a self-completed questionnaire regarding any interventions or advice sought.

Previous interventions:
Post-operative rehabilitation programme versus usual post-operative review by the operating surgeon at 6 weeks.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureAdded as of 26/06/2008:
Oswestry Disability Index
Secondary outcome measuresAdded as of 26/06/2008:
1. An economic analysis based on costs and EQ-5D (a validated, global measure of quality of life)
2. Visual analogue scales of back and leg pain
3. Measures of patient expectations and satisfaction
4. Return to work
5. Frequency of re-operation
6. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
7. Physical activity scale of the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire
Overall study start date01/04/2005
Completion date01/03/2010

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants344
Key inclusion criteriaCurrent inclusion criteria as of 26/06/2008:
Eligible patients at participating hospitals are those currently on the waiting list for spinal surgery with either:
1. Signs, symptoms and radiological evidence of lateral nerve root compression, that is, patients presenting with radicular pain with an associated neurological deficit or with neurogenic claudication (pain in the buttock, thigh or leg that improves with rest), or
2. Lumbar disc prolapse, that is, patients with root symptoms and signs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmation of lumbar disc herniation

Previous inclusion criteria:
People with low back and leg pain
Key exclusion criteriaAdded as of 26/06/2008:
1. Any condition where either the intervention or the rehabilitation may have an adverse effect on the individual
2. Previous spinal surgery
3. Spinal surgery where a fusion procedure is planned due to the unknown hazards of the activity programme for this type of surgery
4. Pregnant women
5. Inadequate ability to complete the trial assessment forms
6. Any patient who is unable to attend the rehabilitation or the reviews or who is unsuitable for rehabilitation classes
7. Unable to complete outcome measures
Date of first enrolment01/04/2005
Date of final enrolment01/03/2010

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Imperial College London
London
W6 8RF
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) (UK)
Charity

Copeman House
St Mary's Court
St Mary's Gate
Chesterfield
Derby
S41 7TD
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)1246 558033
Email info@arc.org.uk
Website http://www.arc.org.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02jkpm469

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) (UK) (ref: M0671)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 26/01/2010 Yes No
Results article results 01/10/2011 Yes No

Editorial Notes

04/02/2016: Plain English summary added.

Please note that as of 26/06/2008, the trial information held in this record was updated, and information was added to fields previously empty. Details of all these additions and corrections can be found in the relevant field, under the update date of 26/06/2008. Please also note that as of 26/06/2008 the overall trial end date was extended as the trial was still actively recruiting. The previous overall trial end date was 30/04/2008.