Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as lumbar spinal pain of unknown origin either persisting despite surgical intervention or appearing after surgical intervention for spinal pain originally in the same topographical location.The pain may originate after surgery, or the surgery may exacerbate or insufficiently ameliorate existing pain. This activity describes the cause and presentation of failed back surgery and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in its management.
When you have surgery to relieve back pain or radiculopathy, it is usually because you have tried other, more conservative measures already. Many cases of back pain resolve themselves in a matter of weeks or months, so conservative treatment is usually the recommended initial therapy. Conservative treatment can include:
- Rest
- Activity modification
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Corticosteroid injections
- Physical therapy
If pain persists, a discectomy, laminectomy or spinal fusion procedure may be the next step. Failed back syndrome is the term for pain that persists even after surgery. It does not necessarily mean that the surgery was botched; more likely, it was ineffective.
