The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether microdecompression alone is as effective as decompression with extension of fusion surgery in patients with symptomatic adjacent segment stenosis after previous lumbar fusion surgery.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is microdecompression alone non-inferior to decompression with extension of fusion in improving disability 24 months after surgery, as measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)? Does microdecompression alone result in similar or lower rates of complications, reoperations, pain, and radiological progression compared with decompression and fusion?
Researchers will compare microdecompression alone to decompression with extension of lumbar fusion to determine whether the less invasive procedure can achieve similar clinical outcomes while reducing surgical burden and preserving spinal structures.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: microdecompression alone or decompression with extension of lumbar fusion.
Undergo the assigned surgical treatment. Attend clinical and radiological follow-up visits at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.
Complete questionnaires assessing disability, pain, quality of life, sleep quality, and mental health.
Undergo routine imaging and clinical examinations to evaluate treatment outcomes and possible complications.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥18 years.
* Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) between 30% and 80% at screening.
* Symptomatic adjacent segment stenosis following degenerative lumbar fusion surgery.
* Persistent symptoms despite at least 6 weeks of appropriate conservative treatment.
* Radiological evidence of adjacent segment spinal stenosis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
* Ability to understand the study procedures and complete patient-reported outcome questionnaires.
* Ability to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Adjacent segment kyphosis or scoliosis greater than 10 degrees.
* Screw loosening or pseudarthrosis of the previous fusion construct.
* Known current pregnancy or breastfeeding.
* Acute traumatic spinal injury or fracture.
* Active inflammatory disease of the spine.
* Active neoplastic disease of the spine.
* Contraindication to spinal surgery.
* Inability to provide informed consent or complete study questionnaires.
* Symptoms attributable to spinal stenosis are not the predominant clinical complaint
* Foraminal stenosis grade ≥2 according to the Lee classification.
* Dynamic spondylolisthesis ≥3 mm on flexion-extension radiographs.
* Persons involuntarily detained by judicial or administrative order.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Proportion of Participants Achieving at Least 30% Reduction in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)