• Gerold R Ebenbichler, Silke Inschlag, Verena Pflüger, Regina Stemberger, Günther Wiesinger, Klaus Novak, Krall Christoph, and Karl L Resch.
• Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria Gerold.Ebenbichler@meduniwien.ac.at.
• Clin Rehabil. 2015 Jun 1; 29 (6): 548-60.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the long-term effects of postoperative comprehensive physiotherapy starting one week after lumbar disc surgery.DesignTwelve-year follow-up of a three-armed, randomized, controlled, single-blinded clinical trial.SettingDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.ParticipantsOf 111 patients following first-time, uncomplicated lumbar disc surgery who participated in the original study and completed the treatment originally allocated, 74 ((67%; 29 (73%) physiotherapy, 22 (58%) sham therapy, 23 (68%) no therapy) completed a 12-year follow-up examination.InterventionsIn the original study, patients had been randomly assigned to comprehensive physiotherapy, sham intervention (neck massage), or no therapy.MeasuresLow Back Pain Rating Scale; best score 0, worst score 130 points).ResultsAt 12 years after surgery, the group participating in comprehensive physiotherapy had significantly better functional outcomes, as rated on the Low Back Pain Rating Score, than the untreated group (mean difference: -13.2 (95% CI: (-25.4; -1.0)). Equally, there was a clinically relevant, non-significant difference between the sham therapy and no therapy (mean difference: -12.5 (95%CI: -26.1; 1.1)). Consequently, the Low Back Pain Rating Score outcome did not differ between physiotherapy and sham therapy (mean difference: -0.7 (95%CI: -14.2; 12.8)).ConclusionsParticipating in a comprehensive physiotherapy program following lumbar disc surgery may be associated with better long-term health benefits over no intervention, but may not be superior to sham therapy.© The Author(s) 2014.

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