ABSTRACT
In cooperation with the Federation of German Pension Insurance Institutes (VDR) and with the VfR Norderney e. V., the university of Witten/Herdecke has developed a clinical guideline on medical rehabilitation for patients after lumbar disc surgery. Methodically, development of this guideline was based on the following three steps: (1) consideration of recent scientific literature, (2) analyses of structures and processes employed in rehab clinics, using consultations with clinic managers, with occupational groups involved in rehabilitation and analysis of patient files, as well as (3) the consensus process. One central result was the statement of substantial paucity of research on evidence for many therapeutic interventions used in orthopaedic rehabilitation of patients after lumbar disc surgery. Analyses and investigations in rehabilitation clinics showed a wide range of therapeutic interventions, used to very different extents. Development of the guideline therefore took place on the basis of consensus-based processes. Using formal consensus techniques according to recommendations of the Association of the scientific medical societies in Germany (AWMF), the guideline presented was developed in cooperation with the occupational groups involved in the rehabilitation process. Its structure focuses on the therapeutic targets, and it includes a clinical algorithm illustrating the orthopaedic rehabilitation process in a simple and understandable manner. The guideline presented is based on recent knowledge and corresponds to stage S2 of development. A further implementation project will evaluate practicability and acceptance of this guideline.
