[Who benefits from medical technical innovations? : A medical and medical economic analysis using the example of lumbar disc surgery].

Further developments in disease diagnosis and treatment are of immense relevance for advancements in medical care of the population. A detailed cost-benefit analysis of direct and indirect costs is usually unavailable. In the current article, these aspects are investigated using prospectively collected randomized data over two years. Specifically, the surgical treatment of a herniated lumbar disc is addressed, and whether a newly introduced technique (e.g., annular closure device) can lead to a better quality of care and increased patient satisfaction when performed during the standard operation, while also being economically viable.