Efficacy of lumbar orthoses after posterior lumbar interbody fusion—a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND: Lumbosacral orthoses (LSOs) are used as standard care after lumbar fusion surgery though their efficacy is unknown. The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled study was to elucidate the clinical and radiographic efficacies of LSO treatment in patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) of less than 3 segments. METHODS: Seventy-three patients who underwent PLIF were randomly allocated to 3 groups: 1 with custom-made LSO with metallic stays (C group); 1 with ready-made LSO without metallic stays (R group), and 1 without LSO (N group). The patients in the C and R groups were instructed to wear LSO postoperatively for 3 months. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, JOA-back pain evaluation questionnaire (JOABPEQ), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and 100-mm visual analog scale for low back pain. Radiographic evaluation included intervertebral fusion rates and loss of correction postoperatively at 2 years. RESULTS: A significant difference in the clinical outcomes was observed only for the lumbar dysfunction domain of JOABPEQ postoperatively at 1 month (N vs C groups; 45% vs 10%, P = .03). Radiographic outcomes were not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: No effect of orthosis treatment for less than 3 segments in PLIF was observed on clinical and radiographic outcomes. The type of orthosis also did not influence the outcomes. These results suggest that the use of LSO for PLIF can be simplified or is omissible except in patients with severe osteoporosis.