Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy for Acute Herniated Intervertebral Disc: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

BackgroundNon-surgical spinal decompression therapy has been used for treating the lumbosacral herniated intervertebral disc as one of the conservative treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy in acute lumbosacral herniated intervertebral disc through magnetic resonance imaging.MethodsProspective, randomized, controlled study. Sixty patients with acute lumbar herniated intervertebral disc were randomized into either the decompression group (n = 30) or non-decompression group (n = 30). In the decompression group, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy was performed ten times in eight weeks. In the non-decompression group, pseudo-decompression therapy (no force) was performed with the same protocol. The change in the lumbosacral disc herniation index was evaluated through follow-up magnetic resonance imaging at three months after the therapy.ResultsThe change in herniation index after the therapy was −27.6 ± 27.5 (%) in the decompression group and −7.1 ± 24.9 (%) in the non-decompression group, with significant difference (P = 0.017). Approximately 26.9% of patients in decompression group and no patients in the non-decompression group showed over 50% reduction in herniation index (P = 0.031).ConclusionNon-surgical spinal decompression therapy can be a good treatment option for conservative treatment of acute lumbosacral herniated intervertebral disc.Trial registrationKorean Clinical Research Information Service (https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_en.jsp?seq=5355&ltype=&rtype=), Registration No. KCT0002614. Registered 26 December, 2017.