Background and aims: Low back pain is mostly due to disc herniation and has a burden upon economy and social aspects of
life. Failure to improve after open lumbar discectomy is frustrating. Therefore, identifying predictors of improvement is of
great clinical benefit. Aims: This research was conducted to evaluate whether an early exercises rehabilitation program using
educational booklet would provide benefit to patients following open lumbar discectomy and determine potential factors of
improvement.
Patients and methods: Design: Single blind randomized controlled trial. Eighty-eight patients scheduled for open lumbar
discectomy from January 2017 to January 2019 at Assiut and Ain Shams Universities hospitals in Egypt were randomly assigned
to two groups. Control group (n = 44) received routine postoperative instructions while intervention group (n = 44) received
routine instructions in addition to early exercises rehabilitation program and were also provided with a specifically designed
educational booklet. Patients were followed up after six months using Oswestry disability index.
Results: There was significant improvement among intervention group as compared to control group in several domains of
Oswestry disability index (walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, travelling and sexual and social life). Better pre-operative Oswestry
disability index score and early application of exercises rehabilitation program using an educational booklet predicted better
postoperative Oswestry disability index score after six months.
Conclusion: Application of an early exercise rehabilitation program and providing patients with a specifically designed
educational booklet would be helpful for patients following open lumbar discectomy. Clinical Relevance: Early exercises
rehabilitation program can be used by nursing staff as a reference in management of patients following open lumbar discectomy.