The Influence of the Timing of Postoperative Rehabilitation Intervention on the Clinical Efficacy of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine System in the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation

Li Xiang

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Postoperative Rehabilitation; Lumbar Disc Herniation

Treatments: Behavioral: Standardized Postoperative Rehabilitation Protocol

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07161232

2025-P2-070-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study focuses on the impact of the timing of postoperative rehabilitation intervention on the clinical efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopic spine surgery in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. The main objective is to explore this impact and provide high-quality evidence-based medical evidence for making reasonable clinical decisions.

Full description

This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial on the impact of the timing of postoperative rehabilitation intervention on the clinical efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopic spine surgery in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. The main purpose is to explore this impact and provide high-quality evidence-based medical evidence for making reasonable clinical decisions. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria formulated in this study, 72 patients who underwent UBE surgery for lumbar disc herniation were recruited in our hospital and randomly assigned to the early rehabilitation intervention group (referred to as the early rehabilitation group, with rehabilitation intervention starting 2 weeks after surgery) or the late rehabilitation intervention group (referred to as the late rehabilitation group, with rehabilitation intervention starting 6 weeks after surgery) after surgery. The clinical and subjective (questionnaire) data of the subjects before surgery, after surgery and during the follow-up process (up to 12 months after surgery) were collected to compare the differences in clinical efficacy between early and late postoperative rehabilitation intervention in patients with lumbar disc herniation treated by UBE.

Enrollment: 72 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 19 and 65 years.

Diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation by imaging and scheduled for unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) surgery.

Presenting with radicular pain in the lower extremity, with a history of less than 1 year.

Able to understand Chinese and complete questionnaires independently.

Physically capable of participating in exercise rehabilitation.

Willing to participate and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Aged under 18 or over 65 years.

Combined with other spinal pathologies (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal tumor, spinal fracture, cauda equina syndrome).

Diagnosis of neurological disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease).

Presence of uncontrolled cardiovascular, respiratory, or peripheral vascular diseases.

History of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia).

Previous history of spinal surgery.

Pregnancy or lactation.

Inability to understand or comply with the study procedures.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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72 participants in 2 patient groups

Early Rehabilitation Group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in this arm will commence a standardized, progressive rehabilitation program at 2 weeks (±3 days) following unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) surgery. The regimen consists of core stability exercises and neurodynamic techniques designed to early activate core muscles, prevent neural adhesion, and restore function. Specific exercises include transverse abdominis activation, sit-to-stand training with abdominal bracing, four-point kneeling rockbacks for spinal mobility, neural mobilization in the modified straight leg raise position, and neural sliding techniques. The exercises are performed once daily and progressed based on patient tolerance. The entire intervention is supervised by a senior physical therapist.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standardized Postoperative Rehabilitation Protocol

Late Rehabilitation Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

This arm serves as the active comparator. Patients will commence the identical standardized, progressive rehabilitation program as the Experimental arm at 6 weeks (±3 days) following unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) surgery. The content of the rehabilitation regimen, exercise frequency, progression criteria, and supervision by a physical therapist are exactly the same as in the Experimental arm. This timing represents the conventional, later postoperative rehabilitation approach.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standardized Postoperative Rehabilitation Protocol