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A descriptive study of the utilization of physical therapy for postoperative rehabilitation in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar radiculopathy

European Spine Journal volume 25, pages 3550–3559 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the referral patterns, utilization and indications for postoperative physical therapy (PT) for lumbar radiculopathy. At least 50 % of patients following lumbar surgery (LS) for radiculopathy are referred for PT to address postoperative pain and disability. Very little is known regarding factors following LS that predict referral to PT, patient perceptions, satisfaction of postoperative PT and predictors of success for PT following LS for radiculopathy.

Methods

Sixty-five patients who underwent LS for radiculopathy completed outcome measures on pain and disability prior to, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after LS. They also completed a questionnaire regarding postoperative PT at the 12-month follow-up.

Results

The majority of patients (59.32 %) attended PT after LS for an average of 14 visits and rated PT favorably. Forty-five percent of the patients who did not attend PT after LS were of the opinion that they would have benefitted from PT after LS, and 62.5 % of these patients reported the surgeon not discussing postoperative PT after LS. Patients with longer duration of symptoms prior to surgery, with greater leg pain scores 1 month after surgery, and who did not feel as well prepared for surgery at the 1 year follow-up were more likely to receive PT, but this did not result in significantly better outcomes on any measure at any follow-up period and did not predict attendance in PT after LS.

Conclusion

There is a need to determine if a subgroup of patients following LS exists who will respond favorably to postoperative PT.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Spine Pain Institute and Neuro Orthopaedic Institute, Story City, IA, USA

    Adriaan Louw & Emilio J. Puentedura

  2. Department of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Adriaan Louw & Ina Diener

  3. Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 453029, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-3029, USA

    Emilio J. Puentedura

Authors
  1. Adriaan Louw
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  2. Emilio J. Puentedura
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  3. Ina Diener
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emilio J. Puentedura.

Ethics declarations

The protocol for this study was reviewed and approved by Stellenbosch University Board of Institutional Review/Ethics.

The manuscript submitted does not contain information about medical device(s).

The authors affirm that they have no financial affiliation (including research funding) or involvement with any commercial organization that has a direct financial interest in any matter included in this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any potential conflict of interest.

Appendix: Physical Therapy Survey following Back Surgery

Appendix: Physical Therapy Survey following Back Surgery

** The answers are confidential and not shared with your surgeon/case manager (if applicable)

Since having your back surgery, did you attend any physical therapy for treatment of your back or leg?

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Cite this article

Louw, A., Puentedura, E.J. & Diener, I. A descriptive study of the utilization of physical therapy for postoperative rehabilitation in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar radiculopathy. Eur Spine J 25, 3550–3559 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4457-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4457-9

Keywords

  • Postoperative pain
  • Physical therapy specialty
  • Spine
  • Laminectomy
  • Radiculopathy

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