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Study Design: This was a multicenter, factorial, randomized, controlled trial on the postoperative management of spinal surgery patients, with randomization stratified by surgeon and operative procedure., Objective: This study sought to determine whether the functional outcome of two common spinal operations could be improved by a program of postoperative rehabilitation that combines professional support and advice with graded active exercise commencing 6 weeks after surgery and/or an educational booklet based on evidence-based messages and advice received at discharge from hospital, each compared with usual care., Summary of Background Data: Surgical interventions on the spine are increasing, and while surgery for spinal stenosis and disc prolapse have been shown to be superior to conservative management, functional outcome, and patient satisfaction are not optimal., Methods: The study compared the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program and an education booklet for the postoperative management of patients undergoing discectomy or lateral nerve root decompression surgery, each compared with "usual care" using a 2 × 2 factorial design, randomizing patient to four groups; rehabilitation-only, booklet-only, rehabilitation-plus-booklet, and usual care only. The primary outcome measure was the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 12 months, with secondary outcomes including visual analog scale measures of back and leg pain., Results: Three hundred thirty-eight patients were recruited into the study and measurements were obtained preoperatively and then repeated at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months postoperatively. Twelve months postoperatively the observed effect of rehabilitation on ODI was -2.7 (95% CI: -6.8 to 1.5) and the effect of booklet was 2.7 (95% CI: -1.5 to 6.9)., Conclusion: This study found that neither intervention had a significant impact on long-term outcome.

Study Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a factorial randomized controlled trial., Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of a rehabilitation program and/or an education booklet each compared with usual care for the postoperative management of patients undergoing discectomy or lateral nerve root decompression surgery., Summary of Background Data: There is little knowledge about the cost-effectiveness of postoperative management of patients after spinal surgery., Methods: A total of 338 patients were recruited into the study between June 2005 and March 2009. Patients were randomized to rehabilitation only, booklet only, rehabilitation plus booklet, or usual care only. Interactions between booklet and rehabilitation were nonsignificant; hence, we compare booklet versus no booklet and rehabilitation versus no rehabilitation. We adopt an English National Health Service and personal social services perspective. Data on outcomes and costs are based on patient level data from the trial. A 1-year time horizon was used. Outcomes were measured in terms of quality-adjusted life years. Health-related quality of life was reported by patients using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). A comprehensive range of health service contacts were included in the cost analysis., Results: There were no significant differences in costs or outcomes associated with either intervention. Mean incremental costs and mean quality-adjusted life years gained per patient of booklet versus no booklet were -£87 (95% CI: -£1221 to £1047) and -0.023 (95% CI: -0.068 to 0.023), respectively. Figures for rehabilitation versus no rehabilitation were £160 (95% CI: -£984 to £1304) and 0.002 (95% CI: -0.044 to 0.048), respectively. Neither intervention was cost-effective when compared with the threshold range commonly used to judge whether or not an intervention is cost-effective in the English National Health Service., Conclusion: Cost-effectiveness evidence does not support use of booklet over no booklet or rehabilitation over no rehabilitation for the postoperative management of patients after spinal surgery.