Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Spine
Abstract number: 26104
THE EFFECT OF EARLY REHABILITATION FOR LUMBAR SPINAL FUSION
PATIENTS
Lisa OESTERGAARD 1 , Cody BÜNGER 2 , Claus Vinther NIELSEN 3 , Rikke
SOEGAARD 4 , Randi Bjoerjeson HOLM 5 , Soeren FRUENSGAARD 5 , Peter HELMIG 6 ,
Bent NIEDERMANN 2 , Karen SVIDT 7 , Trine NIELSEN 1 , Finn Bjarke CHRISTENSEN 2
1 Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapi Department, University Hospital of Aarhus,
Aarhus C (DENMARK), 2 Universital Hospital of Aarhus, Spine unit, Aarhus C
(DENMARK), 3 Institude of Public Health, Aarhus C (DENMARK), 4 CAST, Institute for
Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense C (DENMARK), 5 Region
Hospital of Silkeborg, Orthopaedic Department, Silkeborg (DENMARK), 6 Orthopaedic
Privat Hospital, Aarhus, Århus C (DENMARK), 7 Region Hospital of Silkeborg,
Physiotherapy Department, Silkeborg (DENMARK)
Background: Few studies have examined rehabilitation strategies for spinal fusion
patients. No study has yet examined early start of rehabilitation for lumbar spinal
fusion patients, despite the fact that this rehabilitation strategy has proven to be
effective for disc surgery patients. Methods: 80 patients are randomized to either an
early start of rehabilitation (6 weeks post surgery) or to a usual treatment (start 3
months post surgery). Primary outcome: Dallas Pain Questionnaire (DPQ).
Secondary outcome: Oswestery Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol (EQ-5D), Low Back
Pain Rating Scale absence from work and use of health care service. Follow up at
baseline and 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery. To clarify the health
economic aspect, a cost-benefit and a cost-utility analysis will be carried out. Results:
Preliminary results from 42 patients at 3 months follow up show, that the intervention
group tends to have a better performance in both the DPQ and the ODI (NS). The
patients' sitting ability was significant better in the intervention group (P=0.046). The
intervention group tends to score less pain compared to the control group (NS).
According to the EQ-5D, the intervention group has a sigificant better performance in
walking (P=0,035). The total median score is 0 (-1;1) compared to a median score of
-1 (-2;0) in the control group (P=0.067). Conclusion: The preliminary results suggest
that it may be considered safe for the patients to start rehabilitation already 6 weeks
after the lumbar spinal fusion.
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