Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39956883›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2025

A pre-, peri- and postoperative rehabilitation pathway for lumbar fusion surgery (REACT): a nonrandomized controlled clinical trial.

Liedewij Bogaert, Tinne Thys, Peter Van Wambeke, Lotte Janssens, Thijs Willem Swinnen, Lieven Moke, Sebastiaan Schelfaut, Joost Dejaegher, Sieglinde Bogaert, Koen Peers and 4 more

Abstract readControlled Clinical Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Liedewij BogaertUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium. liedewij.bogaert@uzleuven.be.
Tinne ThysUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Peter Van WambekeUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Lotte JanssensHasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
Thijs Willem SwinnenKU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Lieven MokeUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Sebastiaan SchelfautUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Joost DejaegherUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Sieglinde BogaertKU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Koen PeersUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Ann SprietUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Wim DankaertsKU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Simon BrumagneKU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Bart DepreitereUniversitair Ziekenhuis Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.

Funding

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek 1181521N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based pre-, peri- and postoperative rehabilitation pathway (i.e. the REACT rehabilitation pathway) on disability in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery (LFS), compared to usual care.

methodsA prospective, nonrandomized controlled trial included 72 patients scheduled for one- or two-level LFS for degenerative conditions or adult isthmic spondylolisthesis. Participants were allocated to usual care (N = 36) or the REACT rehabilitation pathway (N = 36). The REACT rehabilitation pathway includes prehabilitation, early mobilization and avoidance of unsubstantiated postoperative restrictions, early postoperative physiotherapy, patient empowerment, case manager guidance, and support towards an early return to activity. The primary outcome was disability; key secondary outcomes were back and leg pain intensity, and return-to-work rate. Additional secondary outcomes included fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, negative emotional states, sit-to-stand performance, analgesic use, length of stay, and adverse events. Data were collected preoperatively and at five time points up to one year postoperatively.

resultsParticipants in the REACT group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in disability (p = 0.003), back pain intensity (p = 0.007), and return-to-work rates (88% vs 56%, p = 0.34) compared to the control group. The REACT group also showed greater improvements in fear of movement (p = 0.038), pain catastrophizing (p < 0.001), combined negative emotional states (p = 0.007), sit-to-stand performance (p = 0.021), and reduced analgesic use (p = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in leg pain intensity (p = 0.042), length of hospital stay (p = 0.095) or adverse events (p = 1.00).

conclusionThe REACT rehabilitation pathway significantly reduced disability in the first postoperative year after LFS compared to usual care. The most promising result is the significantly higher return-to-work rate in the REACT group.

Indexed as

Lumbar VertebraePostoperative CarePreoperative CareSpinal FusionSpondylolisthesisAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeEarly mobilizationPatient empowermentPerioperative rehabilitationPostoperative rehabilitationPrehabilitationSpinal Surgery

Identifiers

PMID39956883

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.