The below study was published in the December 16, 2008 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Back pain affects more than 80% of people in the U.S. at a cost of more than $100 billion a year. A recent study conducted at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago suggests that for patients with spinal stenosis, a laminectomy, or surgical removal of pain-causing soft bone and tissue, is a reasonable value. However, for patients with spinal stenosis who have associated slipped vertebrae, the benefits of spinal fusion surgery may not be worth the costs.
Rush was one of 13 sites across the country that followed patients in this Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT). This study is significant, as it is the first to systematically track health care expenditures along with health outcomes. With more than 650,000 spinal surgical procedures being formed annually in the U.S. at costs exceeding $20 billion, the value of this investment is an important consideration.
The study consisted of 3,900 patients with one of two conditions: spinal stenosis treated with laminectomy, and spinal stenosis with associated slipped vertebrae, treated with spine fusion surgery. The patients were divided into groups of non-surgical vs. surgical treatments; of the surgical patients, 320 underwent laminectomy and 344 had spinal fusion.
Researchers used the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) scale to perform a cost/benefit analysis over a two-year post-surgery period. Laminectomy was calculated to cost $77,000 per QALY gained, while spinal fusion surgery was estimated to be $115,000 per QALY gained. In the United States, $100,000 is the maximum at which procedures are considered cost effective.
Initial analysis indicates that laminectomy offers better value than spine fusion surgery.
The Bonati Spine Institute has perfected the laminectomy using patented tools and techniques that are unavailable at other facilities across the country. If you are experiencing back or neck pain allow our surgeons to review your case and verify if our targeted, outpatient laminectomy procedure can be your alternative to a harsh fusion surgery. Simply call us at 855-267-0482 or complete our online form.