Chronic backache is undoubtedly one of the most
debilitataing of all illnesses and its cure has been controversial. Surgery is not
panacea for all backaches is well known and intensive rehabilitation has its limitations too and not all patients are
able to follow the regime.
Researchers in a recent study have concluded that for chronic low back
pain, spinal fusion surgery is NOT better than intensive rehabilitation in
relieving discomfort. The conclusions though seem a little biased against
surgery and are a little round about – read this report and decide for
yourself.
To alleviate this chronic and nagging pain, depending upon the cause, there are usually two options – surgery or rehabilitation.
In a randomized multicenter study in Norway, investigators compared the efficacy of surgery with disc prosthesis versus non-surgical treatment i.e rehabilitation for patients with chronic low back pain.
In a two-year follow-up of randomized study, 173 patients (86 with surgery and 87 with rehabilitation) were included and treated between April 2004 and September 2007. Surgery with disc prosthesis or outpatient rehabilitation for 12-15 days was carried out.
Post study results indicate that spinal surgery was more effective than an adequate rehabilitation program for chronic low back pain. However the cost analysis also found that surgery to be much more expensive for patient than rehabilitation.
Deriding the results of the surgery the authors concluded the study by stating, “Surgery for chronic low back pain is no better than intensive rehabilitation and is quite unlikely to be considered a cost-effective use of scarce healthcare resources.”
1. B. Druss, Marcus, S., Olfson, M., and Pincus, H.A. (2002). “The Most Expensive Medical Conditions in America.” Health Affairs, 21(4): 105-111.
2. Surgery with disc prosthesis versus rehabilitation in patients with low back pain and degenerative disc: two year follow-up of randomised study; Christian Hellum et al;BMJ 2011; 342:d2786.
Source-Medindia