Project lead and Director of the STARS Education and Research Alliance conjoint UQ Professor Nadine Foster is leading a collaborative team to deliver a randomised clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of lumbar spine fusion surgery and non-surgical care for patients with persistent severe low back pain.

“Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem in Australia and is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absenteeism,” Professor Foster said.

“Whilst education, self-management, exercise, and cognitive interventions are recommended in guidelines and the current Australian Low Back Pain Standard, some patients do not improve with these treatments and may be considered candidates for lumbar fusion surgery.”

Lumbar fusion surgery involves permanently connecting two or more vertebrae in the spine, thought to improve stability and reduce pain.

The research will provide evidence to reduce the current clinical uncertainty about the role of this type of surgery for this patient population.

“Our aim is to provide world-leading evidence to compare the clinical and cost effectiveness of lumbar fusion surgery versus best conservative care. We are conducting two trials, FORENSIC-UK and FORENSIC-Australia, to address this,” Professor Foster said.

“This new Australian trial will also build orthopaedic and pain research capacity in Australia.”

The UK trial is funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology program, and the Australian trial is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) through the NHMRC-NIHR Collaborative Grant.