The primary aim of the study was to test the feasibility of conducting a full RCT with economic analysis and help to inform the provision of physiotherapy in a specific sub-group of patients with sciatica 60 patients waiting for primary, unilateral, single level, lumbar micro-discectomy surgery were recruited and randomised into two groups. The intervention group received a new spinal physiotherapy regimen. Primary outcome measure was the number of patients who did not require surgery at the time of consent clinic. Secondary measures were the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EQ5DL, taken at recruitment, 1 week before surgery and 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery.Purpose of study and background
Methods
To investigate the views and experiences of patients with sciatica who have undergone a bespoke physiotherapy programme whilst awaiting primary lumbar microdiscectomy. This is a qualitative study, nested within a preliminary RCT. All patients were listed for primary, single-level microdiscectomy surgery. In the experimental arm of the study 29 patients had up to 6 sessions of physiotherapy over an 8 week period while on the waiting list for lumbar microdiscectomy. After surgery, they were invited to participate in an in-depth semi-structured interview. At this time patients had either decided not to have the surgery, or had undergone surgery. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed. Two researchers were involved in the analysis of the data to ensure the interpretation of the findings was robust, credible and trustworhy.Objectives
Methods
