Function After Spinal Treatment, Exercise and Rehabilitation: Improving the functional outcome of spinal surgery
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN46782945 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN46782945 |
| Protocol serial number | M0671 |
| Sponsor | Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) (UK) |
| Funder | Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) (UK) (ref: 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
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
Scientific
Musculoskeletal Surgery
Imperial College London
Charing Cross Campus
London
W6 8RF
United Kingdom
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Function After Spinal Treatment, Exercise and Rehabilitation: Improving the functional outcome of spinal surgery |
| Study acronym | FASTER |
| Study objectives | Added 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 Charlottes & Chelsea Research Ethics Committee, ref: 04/Q0406/49 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Spinal lateral root stenosis and discectomy |
| Intervention | Current 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 surgeons 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 type | Procedure/Surgery |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Added as of 26/06/2008: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Added as of 26/06/2008: |
| Completion date | 01/03/2010 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 344 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Current 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 criteria | Added 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 enrolment | 01/04/2005 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/03/2010 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
W6 8RF
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/10/2011 | Yes | No | |
| Protocol article | protocol | 26/01/2010 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
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.
