Back pain surgery put to the test: Placebo-Controlled trial launches

NCT ID NCT06709391

First seen Nov 01, 2025 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 26 times

Summary

This study aims to find out if spinal fusion surgery truly helps people with long-term low back pain. Ninety adults with persistent pain will undergo surgery, but half will receive a placebo procedure without fusion. Neither the patients nor their caregivers will know which group they are in for six months. The main goal is to measure changes in back function using a standard disability questionnaire.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for LOW BACK PAIN, MECHANICAL are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Aleris Elisabetsjukhuset

    RECRUITING

    Uppsala, Sweden

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••

  • Ryggkirurgiskt centrum

    RECRUITING

    Stockholm, 11433, Sweden

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Sahlgrenska university hospital

    RECRUITING

    Gothenburg, Sweden

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Uppsala University

    RECRUITING

    Uppsala, 75185, Sweden

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Fusion surgery (spinal fusion with implants)

What this could lead to

If fusion surgery proves better than placebo, it could confirm this common procedure as an effective treatment for chronic low back pain.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage study with only 90 participants. The placebo effect is strong in surgery, so fusion may not show a clear benefit. Risks include infection, nerve damage, and complications from anesthesia.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

intervertebral disk degenerative disorder Low Back Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.