Two common spine surgeries — lumbar stenosis and cervical spondylotic myelopathy — were assessed for outcomes and cost-effectiveness to prove their worth, and the outcomes were presented at the North American Spine Society's annual meeting. Ninety-four patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were followed for two years after undergoing either laminectomy or comprehensive medical management, and after two years laminectomy resulted in the most significant improvement of all outcome measures. Medical management failed to provide significant effectiveness. The quality-adjusted life year gained for surgery versus medical management was $56,592.
For the second study, 278 patients from 12 clinical sites participated. One hundred and sixty-nine were treated anteriorly using discectomy/corpectomy with instrumented fusion, and 95 were treated posteriorly with laminectomy and fusion. The study demonstrated that anterior and posterior surgical treatment is highly effective is preventing progression. However, the anterior techniques may be more appropriate for younger patients.
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For the second study, 278 patients from 12 clinical sites participated. One hundred and sixty-nine were treated anteriorly using discectomy/corpectomy with instrumented fusion, and 95 were treated posteriorly with laminectomy and fusion. The study demonstrated that anterior and posterior surgical treatment is highly effective is preventing progression. However, the anterior techniques may be more appropriate for younger patients.
More Articles on Spine:
Spine Surgery Coverage Changes in 2012: 5 Experts Discuss
Orthopedic, Spine Center Receives $50K Donation
A Check List for Patient-Centered Spine Surgery: Q&A With Dr. William Dillin of Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic