Fusion or Not - a Study on Low Back Pain

Problems from the musculoskeletal system are one of the most common reasons for disability and sick leave. These problems include low back pain. Low back pain affects as many as 8 out of 10 individuals at some point in life. In most people it is quickly transient with little, or only short-term, impact on function and quality of life. In some individuals, the problems can become long-lasting and significantly impair the quality of life. When analgesic and physiotherapeutic treatment have been tried and the problems are still not manageable, and have lasted more than a year, surgical treatment consisting of fusion surgery of the painful part of the spine may come in question. In Sweden, approximately 600 fusion surgeries are performed annually for low back pain. There are a few randomized studies comparing fusion surgery for low back pain with non-surgical treatments, but these have showed different results. The effect of fusion surgery on low back pain is therefore uncertain. Surgical treatments brings with it a clear placebo effect. Other studies on pain in other parts of musculoskeletal system than the back has not been able to show that a surgical treatment is always better than placebo surgery. This has called into question the effect of surgery on many painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system. No placebo-controlled surgical studies have been done on fusion surgery for low back pain. A placebo surgical controlled study is the only way to ascertain whether fusi…

This description comes directly from the study's public registry record.

Paul Gerdhem, MD, PhD  ·  +46(0)186110000  ·  paul.gerdhem@uu.se

Christian Carrwik, MD, PhD  ·  +46(0)186110000  ·  christian.carrwik@akademiska.se

Always discuss trial participation with your own doctor first.

Get one email when the public record changes — results posted, or the study's status changes. Nothing else, ever.

We email about this public record only. Unsubscribe anytime with one click. Never medical advice.