About this trial
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is one of the most common degenerative diseases of the spinal column, with symptoms including low back pain which worsens with ambulation, poor balance, decreased activity due to pain, and a marked decrease in quality of life (QoL). Prevalence rises with age, and current treatment options range from varied conservative management strategies, to surgical intervention with decompression of neural structures.
While the effects of surgical decompression on back pain and QoL has been widely researched, the effects of surgery on activity levels is less well understood. Though patients generally have subjective improvements in this parameter after surgery, objective measurements in this patient group have been lacking.
This study aims to investigate the effects of decompressive surgery on activity levels in elderly patients with LSS. Measurements of activity will be taken before and after decompressive surgery, as well as with regular intervals during a two-year follow-up period.
A better understanding of the effect that LSS has on activity may lead to more patients being able to receive surgical treatment, which is hypothesized to lead to an increase in QoL and less perceived disability amongst this patient group.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Age ≥ 65 years
Referred to decompressive spinal surgery due to symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis at ≥ 1 level
Central canal LSS grade B or C (Schizas classification) at ≥ 1 level by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Minimum of 3 months of unsuccessful non-operative treatment
Disqualifiers
Signs of malignancy or infection in the spinal column
Severe comorbidities incl. neurodegenerative conditions which may contribute to balance problems
Revision surgery (previous decompression surgery at the same vertebral level)
Spinal surgery up to 1 year prior to the date of inclusion
Trial population
Patients over 65 years of age referred to decompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis
Trial design
Case-crossover
Prospective
Treatments tested in this trial
Decompressive surgery
Procedure/SurgeryDecompressive surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Activity level
Activity level, measured by total activity counts per day (TAC/d)
Secondary outcomes
Physical activity
Physical activity, measured by time spent in MVPA (minutes/day)
Physical activity
Physical activity, measured by physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) (Kilojoules/d)
Physical inactivity
Physical inactivity, measured by sedentary time (hours/d)
Quality of life
Subjective QoL, measured by European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions score (EQ-5D) The EQ-5D consists of six questions regarding current perceived health status and quality of life. Questions 1 - 5 have a range of 1 to 3, lower is better. The answer to questions 6 is given on a scale of 0 to 100, where lower is better.
Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Region Zealand
Lead sponsor
Region Syddanmark
Collaborator