EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY PATIENT WITH REPEATED FAILED SPINAL SURGERIES

Purpose: The aim was to report the effects of physiotherapy and rehabilitation on pain, drop foot severity, lower extremity range of motion, muscle strength, disability level and emotional status in a 64-year-old male patient with repeated failed lumbar spinal surgery.

Method: Physiotherapy and rehabilitation were applied for twelve weeks, with two sessions per week, for an average of 60 minutes per session. Pain severity was assessed using the Numeric Pain Scale; range of motion of the trunk, lower extremity and foot was measured using the Universal Goniometer; hip, knee, ankle and big toe muscle strength was assessed using the Manual Muscle Strength Test, The Oswestry Disability Questionnaire and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire were used to assess disability status due to low back pain, the Short Form-36 Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) was used to assess quality of life and the Beck Depression Scale was used to assess emotional status.

Results: Improvements were noted in the severity of the drop foot, the level of pain during activity, particularly in the active range of motion of lumbar flexion, extension and hip flexion, and in the muscle strength of the lower extremities, with right dorsal flexion being the most prominent. Pain during activity decreased from 8 to 4 on the numerical pain scale. In addition, significant positive changes were reported in the Ostwesrty Disability Index, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and SF-36 physical function sub-parameter scores. Finally, the daily use of anesthetics was discontinued.

Discussion: In patients who have undergone failed lumbar spinal surgery, treatment options with potential risks such as side effects, addiction and complications are widely used. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation can be considered as the first option in these patients.