Eleven % of patients had spinal fusion permanent disability, compared to two % of patients treated without surgery. The majority of patients continued to use opioids after spinal fusion surgery, with many taking higher doses. There were more deaths in the group of spinal fusion.Although not a scientifically controlled process, the study raises questions about the long-term efficacy of spinal fusion surgery for workers ‘compensation patients’ with chronic low back pain. Dr. Nguyen and co-authors write: This procedure aims to improve pain and function, but the results are objective an increase permanent disability, poor performance status of work and high doses of opiates.
The debate continues about the role of spinal fusion surgery (spinal fusion), the results suggest that the operation can not be an effective intervention for workers ‘compensation patients’ with certain causes of back pain. The lead author is Dr. H. Trang Nguyen, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
The use of spinal fusion surgery for chronic low back pain has increased dramatically in recent years, despite the lack of consistent evidence that this improves patient outcomes. Few previous studies have focused on the use of spinal fusion, compared to non-surgical treatment in patients with workers ‘compensation.’
They also noted the lack of evidence supporting the use of spinal fusion for degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, radiculopathy, or diagnosis in the majority of workers in the study. Arthrodesis should be carefully considered in workers ‘compensation patients’, Dr. Nguyen and coauthors believe and only for patients with diagnoses for which spinal fusion has proven particularly effective.
Using data from the Ohio workers’ compensation, Dr. Nguyen and co-authors identified 725 workers with chronic low back pain who underwent spinal fusion. Spinal fusion is an operation to fuse the adjacent vertebrae in certain types of chronic back problems. Most patients in the study had degenerative disc disease, or disease of the nerve root (radiculopathy).
The researchers assessed the final outcome of treatment, including the return to work, disability, and the use of drugs for severe pain (opiates) two years of follow-up. They compared the results of spinal fusion with those of a random sample of 725 patients undergoing non-surgical, conservative treatment (eg exercise, etc.)