Predictors of substantial improvement in physical function six months after lumbar surgery: is early post-operative walking important? A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Resuming walking after lumbar surgery is a common focus of early post-operative rehabilitation, however there is no knowledge about whether increased walking is associated with better functional outcomes. This study aimed to determine whether time spent walking in the week after lumbar surgery, along with co-morbidities, pre-operative pain duration, pre-operative physical activity or function, or surgical variables predict substantial improvement in physical function six months after lumbar surgery. METHODS: A prospective cohort study design was utilized. Participants undergoing lumbar surgery (discectomy, decompression, fusion) were recruited between April and November 2016. Predictor variables were collected pre-operatively (age, sex, smoking status, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, pre-operative pain duration, neurological deficit, physical activity levels, mobility restriction, function) and early post-operatively (post-operative walking time, surgical procedure, single/multi-level surgery). Outcome variables (physical function, back pain and leg pain severity) were measured pre-operatively and six-months post-operatively. Logistic regression analysis was used to establish prediction of substantial improvement in outcome at six months. RESULTS: Participants (N = 233; 50% female; age 61 (SD = 14) years) who walked more in the first post-operative week were more likely to have substantially improved function on the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire at six months (OR 1.18, 95%CI 1.02–1.37), as were participants with < 12 months pre-operative pain (OR 2.71, 95%CI 1.28–5.74), and those with lower pre-operative function (OR 4.02, 95%CI 2.33–6.93). Age < 65 years (OR 2.36, 95%CI 1.14–4.85), and < 12 months pre-operative pain (OR 3.52 95%CI 1.69–7.33) predicted substantial improvement on the SF-36 Physical Component Summary. There were no significant predictors for substantial improvement in either leg or back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Walking time in the week after lumbar surgery is one of several predictors of substantial improvement in function at six months. Further research is required to determine whether intervention designed to increase walking early after lumbar surgery results in improved longer-term recovery of function. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), registration number 12616000747426. Retrospectively registered on the 7th of June 2016. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12891-019-2806-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.