Return to Work for Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II Patients

A multicenter randomized controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate whether the ability to work in Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type II patients after SCS implantation is different after a personalized biopsychosocial rehabilitation program specifically targeting return to work compared with usual care.

The primary scientific objective is to examine whether the ability to work in PSPS-T2 patients after SCS implantation is different with a personalized biopsychosocial rehabilitation program specifically targeting RTW, compared to usual care. The secondary objective of the study is to examine if a personalized biopsychosocial rehabilitation program specifically targeting RTW, compared to usual care, is different in improving functional capacity, improving work status and participation, obtaining pain relief, increasing health-related quality of life, increasing functioning and physical activity, improving sleep quality, decreasing kinesiophobia, increasing self-management, decreasing anxiety and depression and decreasing healthcare expenditure.

Patients will be randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to a personalized rehabilitation program or usual care using random, permuted blocks of 2 or 4 patients stratified by investigational site and the duration of sick leave. Participants randomly allocated to the usual care intervention will undergo the usual care trajectory. This program is delivered at each of the participating centres. Patients will follow the usual care as it is implemented in Belgian hospitals, after SCS implantation. Participants randomly allocated to the personalized biopsychosocial return to work program will receive an individualized 14-week rehabilitation program. Therapy is provided at each implantation centres and will start 6 weeks after definitive SCS implantation. Within a 14-week period, patients in this group receive treatment sessions from trained physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists. All therapists will be trained by experts in the different therapy modalities.

Outcome assessments will take place at baseline, immediately before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, 3 months after the intervention, 6 months after the intervention and 12 months after the intervention.