Aim: We present a pilot study on the conservative treatment of chronic low back pain (LBP) using an orthosis. It consists of a pneumatic custom made lumbar vest (Orthotrac), which permits both support-stabilisation and decompression. This system allows patients to perform any activity while wearing it.

Material: The study included 9 patients with radicular pain due to degenerative discopathy including: dark disc, discal protrusion with neural foramina involvement, stenosis of the foramina. Patients had to wear the Orthotrac vest according to a precise protocol, 60 minutes 3 times a day for 5 weeks.

Results: 5 patients (55.5%) have showed a significant subjective and clinical improvement with subsequent better quality of life. All patients referred a decrease or disappearance of radicular pain. Outcome measures were evaluated VAS pain scale and SF-36 follow up questionnaires. Two (22.2%) patients reported to have no benefit.

Conclusion: The pneumatic vest can play an important role in non-surgical therapy for low back pain. The system seems to give an effective spinal decompression and deserves a careful consideration when lumbar discal disease is treated non operatively.