STUDY DESIGN: A review of the surgical costs and results in a group of patients randomly allocated to surgery as part of a large prospective randomized trial of patients with chronic back pain. OBJECTIVE: To report the observational data from the surgical arm of a randomized trial comparing surgery with intensive rehabilitation for chronic low back pain. Clinical and economic data are reported. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgery for chronic low back pain is a well established but unproven intervention. The most cost-effective technique for spinal stabilization is still not established. METHODS:One hundred six patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to the surgical group of a randomized trial comparing spinal fusion of the lumbar with a 3 week intensive rehabilitation program. The primary outcomes were the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Shuttle Walking Test measured at baseline and 2 years postrandomization. Patients were stratified by preoperative diagnosis, smoking habit, and litigation. Complications were assessed and costs analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 176 surgical patients, 56 underwent postero-lateral fusion, 57 underwent interbody fusion, and 24 underwent flexible stabilization of the spine. The mean ODI for all patients in the surgical arm of the trial improved from a baseline of 46.5 (SD 14.6) to 34.2 (SD 21) at 2 years. Health care costs were higher ( 3109 pounds difference) for more complex procedures, and nearly 6 times as many early complications occurred with the more complex procedures. Smoking and unemployment were associated with worse results whereas litigation did not adversely affect the outcome. CONCLUSION: These observational changes in the ODI after surgery are similar to those reported from other studies of spinal fusion. More complex surgery is more expensive with more complications than postero-lateral fusion.
RCT Entities:
STUDY DESIGN: A review of the surgical costs and results in a group of patients randomly allocated to surgery as part of a large prospective randomized trial of patients with chronic back pain. OBJECTIVE: To report the observational data from the surgical arm of a randomized trial comparing surgery with intensive rehabilitation for chronic low back pain. Clinical and economic data are reported. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgery for chronic low back pain is a well established but unproven intervention. The most cost-effective technique for spinal stabilization is still not established. METHODS: One hundred six patients with chronic low back pain were randomized to the surgical group of a randomized trial comparing spinal fusion of the lumbar with a 3 week intensive rehabilitation program. The primary outcomes were the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Shuttle Walking Test measured at baseline and 2 years postrandomization. Patients were stratified by preoperative diagnosis, smoking habit, and litigation. Complications were assessed and costs analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 176 surgical patients, 56 underwent postero-lateral fusion, 57 underwent interbody fusion, and 24 underwent flexible stabilization of the spine. The mean ODI for all patients in the surgical arm of the trial improved from a baseline of 46.5 (SD 14.6) to 34.2 (SD 21) at 2 years. Health care costs were higher ( 3109 pounds difference) for more complex procedures, and nearly 6 times as many early complications occurred with the more complex procedures. Smoking and unemployment were associated with worse results whereas litigation did not adversely affect the outcome. CONCLUSION: These observational changes in the ODI after surgery are similar to those reported from other studies of spinal fusion. More complex surgery is more expensive with more complications than postero-lateral fusion.
Authors: Miranda L van Hooff; Johannes D van der Merwe; John O'Dowd; Paul W Pavlov; Maarten Spruit; Marinus de Kleuver; Jacques van Limbeek Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2010-05-27 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: F M Kovacs; E Arana; A Royuela; A Estremera; G Amengual; B Asenjo; H Sarasíbar; I Galarraga; A Alonso; C Casillas; A Muriel; C Martínez; V Abraira Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2012-04-12 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Jan Siewe; Christina Otto; Peter Knoell; Marco Koriller; Gregor Stein; Thomas Kaulhausen; Peer Eysel; Kourosh Zarghooni; Jeremy Franklin; Rolf Sobottke Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2011-10-18 Impact factor: 2.362
Authors: Jan Siewe; Jan Bredow; Johannes Oppermann; Timmo Koy; Stefan Delank; Peter Knoell; Peer Eysel; Rolf Sobottke; Kourosh Zarghooni; Marc Röllinghoff Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2014-09-05 Impact factor: 2.362