Actively Recruiting
FINDISC-Pain, Finnish Discectomy Trial on the Benefits and Harms of Surgery in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation
Led by Helsinki University Central Hospital · Updated on 2026-05-14
122
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
249 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The FINDISC trial studies whether common back operation, microdiscectomy, is effective and safe for treating sciatica caused by a lumbar disc herniation. The study includes people whose leg pain has not improved after at least six weeks of non-surgical treatment. The FINDISC trial aims to recruit and randomly allocate 122 participants to receive either the actual operation (discectomy) or a placebo (sham) surgery. The placebo (sham) procedure involves anesthesia and an approach similar to the real operation, but no removal of disc material or bone. Participants and healthcare staff, excluding the surgical team, will not know which treatment was given. The study compares pain relief, recovery, daily functioning, quality of life, and harms between the two groups. The goal of the study is to provide reliable evidence to help patients and clinicians decide whether microdiscectomy offers meaningful benefits compared with placebo surgery.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
FINDISC-Pain, Finnish Discectomy Trial on the Benefits and Harms of Surgery in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 18-60 years
- Diagnosed unilateral sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation confirmed by MRI at L3/4, L4/5, or L5/S1
- Symptoms lasting at least 6 weeks
- Worst leg pain score of 5 or higher on a numerical rating scale
- Has not improved after at least one form of non-surgical care
- Willing to have surgery and comply with study procedures
- Able to give informed consent and communicate in the study language
You will not qualify if you...
- Uncertain nerve root compression
- Spinal stenosis or other spinal conditions that may confuse results
- Far lateral disc herniation
- Serious neurological problems
- Previous spinal surgery
- Any reason preventing MRI scan
- Body mass index over 35 or lumbar subcutaneous fat thicker than 50 mm by MRI
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification greater than 2
- Being pregnant
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Helsinki University Central Hospital
Helsinki, Finland
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
O
Olli Rytsölä, MD
CONTACT
S
Study coordinator
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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