The role of the plaster bed after spinal fusion

Between 1974 and 1983, 40 patients underwent intertransverse lumbar fusion at the Royal Free Hospital, London. Nine of these were managed after operation on a plaster bed for 12 weeks and the rest were mobilized within 2 weeks. A satisfactory radiologic fusion rate of 75% was achieved in the first group and of 70% in the second group. There was no significant difference between these two groups, (chi 2 test). The results do not support the use of the plaster bed after lumbar fusion.