Increasing rates of cervical and lumbar spine surgery in the United States, 1979-1990.
METHODS
Data from annual national surveys of hospitalizations were used to review trends.


OBJECTIVE
The trends in rates of hospitalizations with cervical and lumbar spine surgery were examined among persons > or = 25 years old.


BACKGROUND
Preliminary analysis of national survey data indicated that during 1979 to 1990 the number of spine operations increased markedly.


METHODS
Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were used to calculate age-adjusted rates of hospitalizations.


RESULTS
From 1979-81 to 1988-90, in each sex, the rate of hospitalizations with cervical spine surgery increased > 45%, with the rates for cervical fusion surgery increasing > 70%. The rate of hospitalizations with lumbar spine surgery increased > 33% in each sex, with the rate for lumbar fusion surgery increasing > 60% in each sex, the rate for lumbar disc surgery increasing 40% among males and 21% among females, and the rate for lumbar exploration/decompression surgery increasing > 65% in each sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Between 1979 and 1990, rates of hospitalizations with cervical and lumbar spine surgery increased markedly among both sexes and for different categories of spine surgery.
Davis
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Division of Health Examination Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland.
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology