CLINICAL ARTICLE

 

Can active conservative intervention limit lumbar-spinal surgery?

 

 

PR Engelbrecht^I; E Coetzee^II; J Mennen^III; HP Meyer^IV; J Snyman^V; D Kapp^VI; J du Buisson^VII; ^IJJ Gilau^VII

^IMB ChB (UOVS), MMed (Orth) (Pret), Orthopaedic Surgeon in private practice, Wilgers Hospital, Pretoria
^IIMB ChB (Pret), MMed (Orth) (Pret) FCS (SA), Orthopaedic Surgeon in private practice, Pretoria East Hospital, Pretoria
^IIIMB ChB (Pret), MMed (Neur.Chir) (Pret) FCS (SA), Neurosurgeon in private practice, Wilgers and Unitas Hospitals, Pretoria
^IVMB ChB (Pret), MPraxMed (Pret), MFGP (SA), Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria
^VMB ChB (Stell), MFAP (SA), M PraxMed (Pret), Medical advisor, Pretoria
^VIMB ChB (Pret), Medical advisor, Pretoria
^VIIMB ChB (Pret), MSc, BD (Toronto), Mphil, General Medical Practitioner, Pretoria
^VIIIMB ChB (Pret), General Medical Practitioner, Pretoria

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of an inter-disciplinary, cognitive and exercise-based active treatment programme to reduce the incidence of lumbar-spinal surgery. Patients were treated using internationally validated treatment protocols. A total of 234 patients, already advised to undergo lumbar-spinal surgery, were treated conservatively from 2005 until 2007. After an initial 6 weeks of active treatment, patients were put on a maintenance programme.
Nineteen patients required lumbar-spinal surgery.
The authors concluded that an active, inter-disciplinary and cognitive exercise-based treatment programme limited lumbar-spinal surgery to 8% in a case-controlled cohort of patients who had already been advised to undergo surgery.

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Correspondence:
Dr PR Engelbrecht
Tel: (012) 807-1298/9; Fax: (012) 807-2639
drengelbrecht@mailsurf.co.za