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Spine stabilisation trial
ISRCTN ISRCTN88854663
DOI 10.1186/ISRCTN88854663
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
EudraCT number
Public title Spine stabilisation trial
Scientific title
Acronym N/A
Serial number at source G9431172
Study hypothesis To compare the outcome of surgical stabilisation (spinal fusion) with a special non-operative rehabilitation in patients with chronic low back pain considered suitable for spinal fusion.
Lay summary
Ethics approval Not provided at time of registration
Study design Randomised controlled trial
Countries of recruitment United Kingdom
Disease/condition/study domain Chronic low back pain
Participants - inclusion criteria 1. Patients who were candidates for surgical stabilisation of the spine were eligible if the clinician and patient were uncertain which of the study treatment strategies was best.
2. Patients had to be aged between 18 and 55, with more than a 12 month history of chronic low back pain (with or without referred pain) and irrespective of whether they had had previous root decompression or discectomy.
Participants - exclusion criteria 1. Patients were ineligible if the surgeon considered that any medical or other reasons made one of the trial interventions unsuitable.
2. These included infection or other comorbidities (inflammatory disease, tumours, fractures), psychiatric disease, inability or unwillingness to complete the trial questionnaires, or pregnancy.
3. If patients had had previous surgical stabilisation surgery of the spine they were also excluded.
Anticipated start date 01/06/1996
Anticipated end date 31/12/2004
Status of trial Completed
Patient information material
Target number of participants 400
Interventions 1. Surgical stabilisation (spinal fusion)
2. Special non-operative rehabilitation

Follow-up: 6,12 months, 2 years post randomisation
Primary outcome measure(s) The two primary measures at 24 months included a back pain specific questionnaire and a standardised walking test. The Oswestry low back pain disability index is scored from 0% (no disability) to 100% (totally disabled or bedridden) and designed to assess limitations of various activities of daily living. The shuttle walking test is a standardised, progressive, maximal test of walking speed and endurance.
Secondary outcome measure(s) 1. The short form 36 general health questionnaire (SF-36) includes 35 items summarised in two measures related to physical and mental health. Each scale ranges from 0 (worst health state) to 100 (best health state). The summary measures are transformed to give a population mean of 50 (SD 10). The SF-36 is recommended as an outcome assessment for spinal disorders because it provides strong psychometric support and extensive normative data.
2. Psychological assessment: we used the distress and risk assessment method (DRAM), which includes the modified Zung depression index and somatic perception questionnaire, to assess anxiety and depression.
3. Complications: we recorded the intraoperative use of anaesthetic agents, implants; radiological investigations; complications of surgery and any adverse effects of rehabilitation; postoperative complications, implant failure and repeat surgery and personal items and devices purchased by the patient because of lower back pain. Work status was monitored. We recorded 'obvious pseudoarthrosis' only where it was clear to the treating surgeon that fusion had failed and that this was a problem to the patient.
Sources of funding Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)
Trial website
Publications 2005 results in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15911537
Contact name Mr  Jeremy  Fairbank
  Address Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Windmill Road
Headington
  City/town Oxford
  Zip/Postcode OX3 7LD
  Country United Kingdom
  Email jeremy.fairbank@ndos.ox.ac.uk
Sponsor Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)
  Address 20 Park Crescent
  City/town London
  Zip/Postcode W1B 1AL
  Country United Kingdom
  Tel +44 (0)20 7636 5422
  Fax +44 (0)20 7436 6179
  Email clinical.trial@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
  Sponsor website: http://www.mrc.ac.uk
Date applied 25/10/2000
Last edited 30/07/2009
Date ISRCTN assigned 25/10/2000
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