Radicular PainNCT07193758
Return to Work After Lumbar Surgery: a Nationwide Survey of Spinal Surgeons' Practices
An observational study of Radicular Pain and Lumbar Surgery, run by Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven at 1 site in Belgium.
Trial summary
This national cross-sectional survey investigates the current practices and perceptions of Belgian spinal surgeons regarding return to work (RTW) after lumbar surgery for radicular pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Radicular Pain, Lumbar Surgery, Radicular Pain Related to Lumbosacral Disc Disease
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBelgium
- Study dates
- 2 Oct 2025to 26 Apr 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: Belgian spinal surgeons (orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons) who perform lumbar surgery.
Who may be able to join
- Orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons who perform lumbar surgery in Belgium.
- Members or affiliates of the Spine Society of Belgium (SSBe), as survey distribution will occur through the SSBe member list.
- Willing to participate in the survey, as evidenced by voluntary completion of the online questionnaire. Informed consent is implied after reading the participant information sheet.
Who cannot join
- Surgeons not performing lumbar surgery.
- Surgeons not affiliated with SSBe.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Return to Work After Lumbar Surgery for Radicular Pain: a Nationwide Survey of Spinal Surgeons' Practices and Perceptions
This national cross-sectional survey investigates the current practices and perceptions of Belgian spinal surgeons regarding return to work (RTW) after lumbar surgery for radicular pain. The study aims to (1) assess surgeons' advice on RTW and sick leave, (2) identify barriers and facilitators encountered when providing RTW guidance, and (3) explore how these factors relate to surgeon characteristics such as demographics, hospital setting, and professional experience. The results will inform clinical practice recommendations and support the development of targeted interventions to improve RTW guidance.
Read the detailed description
Return to work (RTW) after lumbar surgery is shaped by a combination of medical, psychosocial, and system-level factors. Although clinical guidelines increasingly recognize RTW as an essential outcome, limited evidence exists on how surgeons address this issue in everyday practice and what challenges they encounter.
This national cross-sectional survey will be distributed to members of the Spine Society of Belgium (SSBe). It explores surgeons' demographics, current clinical practices regarding RTW advice and sick leave, communication strategies with patients, perceived professional roles and responsibilities, and barriers and facilitators in providing RTW guidance.
The findings will provide insights into current practices, highlight modifiable barriers, and support the development of evidence-based clinical recommendations and targeted interventions to optimize RTW guidance after lumbar surgery.
- Conditions
- Radicular Pain, Lumbar Surgery, Radicular Pain Related to Lumbosacral Disc Disease, Fusion of Spine, Lumbar Region, Disc Herniation With Radiculopathy, Lumbar Decompression
- Keywords
- Radicular pain, Lumbar surgery, Lumbar decompression, Lumbar discectomy, Lumbar fusion, Survey, Spinal surgeons, Return to work, Sick leave advice
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Belgian spinal surgeons | Belgian spinal surgeons who are members of the Spine Society of Belgium (SSBe). The survey will be distributed through the SSBe membership list. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Reported practices regarding return to work advice and sick leave following lumbar surgery
Measured using a custom-designed online questionnaire. Topics include timing of advice, recommended duration of sick leave, and content of return-to-work guidance. Results reported as frequencies and percentages.
Measured: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Reported barriers and facilitators to providing return to work guidance
Measured using multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions. Topics include professional-level barriers and facilitators. Results reported as frequencies, percentages, and mean Likert scores (1-5; higher = greater agreement).
Measured: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Surgeon demographics and practice characteristics
Demographic and professional background questions including age, sex, specialty, years in practice, hospital setting, and surgical case load. Results summarized as frequencies and percentages.
Measured: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Reported confidence and perceived responsibility in discussing return to work
Measured using 5-point Likert scale questions. Topics include self-reported confidence in discussing return-to-work and perceived responsibility among surgeons. Results reported as mean scores (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree; higher scores = greater confidence/responsibility).
Measured: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Sep 2025
- Study start2 Oct 2025
- Primary completion26 Apr 2026
- Study completion26 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Radicular PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU LeuvenThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sofie Rummens, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, UZ Leuven
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07193758
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- S70903
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 29 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The study involves a small professional population (Belgian spinal surgeons), where sharing individual-level responses could risk indirect identification despite anonymization. Only aggregated, group-level results will be reported.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Return to Work After Lumbar Surgery for Radicular Pain: a Nationwide Survey of Spinal Surgeons' Practices and Perceptions
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07193758
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- S70903
- Conditions
- Radicular Pain, Lumbar Surgery, Radicular Pain Related to Lumbosacral Disc Disease, Fusion of Spine, Lumbar Region, Disc Herniation With Radiculopathy, Lumbar Decompression
- Keywords
- Radicular pain, Lumbar surgery, Lumbar decompression, Lumbar discectomy, Lumbar fusion, Survey, Spinal surgeons, Return to work
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU LeuvenUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 26 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 26 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This national cross-sectional survey investigates the current practices and perceptions of Belgian spinal surgeons regarding return to work (RTW) after lumbar surgery for radicular pain. The study aims to (1) assess surgeons' advice on RTW and sick leave, (2) identify barriers and facilitators encountered when providing RTW guidance, and (3) explore how these factors relate to surgeon characteristics such as demographics, hospital setting, and professional experience. The results will inform clinical practice recommendations and support the development of targeted interventions to improve RTW guidance.
Detailed description
Return to work (RTW) after lumbar surgery is shaped by a combination of medical, psychosocial, and system-level factors. Although clinical guidelines increasingly recognize RTW as an essential outcome, limited evidence exists on how surgeons address this issue in everyday practice and what challenges they encounter.
This national cross-sectional survey will be distributed to members of the Spine Society of Belgium (SSBe). It explores surgeons' demographics, current clinical practices regarding RTW advice and sick leave, communication strategies with patients, perceived professional roles and responsibilities, and barriers and facilitators in providing RTW guidance.
The findings will provide insights into current practices, highlight modifiable barriers, and support the development of evidence-based clinical recommendations and targeted interventions to optimize RTW guidance after lumbar surgery.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Belgian spinal surgeons | – | –Belgian spinal surgeons who are members of the Spine Society of Belgium (SSBe). The survey will be distributed through the SSBe membership list. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Belgian spinal surgeons (orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons) who perform lumbar surgery.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons who perform lumbar surgery in Belgium.
- Members or affiliates of the Spine Society of Belgium (SSBe), as survey distribution will occur through the SSBe member list.
- Willing to participate in the survey, as evidenced by voluntary completion of the online questionnaire. Informed consent is implied after reading the participant information sheet.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Surgeons not performing lumbar surgery.
- Surgeons not affiliated with SSBe.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Reported practices regarding return to work advice and sick leave following lumbar surgery
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Measured using a custom-designed online questionnaire. Topics include timing of advice, recommended duration of sick leave, and content of return-to-work guidance. Results reported as frequencies and percentages.
3 secondary outcomes
Reported barriers and facilitators to providing return to work guidance
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Surgeon demographics and practice characteristics
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Reported confidence and perceived responsibility in discussing return to work
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The study involves a small professional population (Belgian spinal surgeons), where sharing individual-level responses could risk indirect identification despite anonymization. Only aggregated, group-level results will be reported.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Sofie Rummens, MD, PhD principal investigator
UZ Leuven
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Radicular Pain and Lumbar Surgery, run by Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven at 1 site in Belgium.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Belgium. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Reported practices regarding return to work advice and sick leave following lumbar surgery (time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 months (anticipated January 2026)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Apr 2026.