title: An assessment of the early management of spine problems and appropriateness of diagnostic imaging utilization.
abstract: Low back pain may affect up to 80% of all adults and is the second leading reason for physician visits in ambulatory medicine. Estimates for the annual direct medical costs for treating patients with back pain approach $25 million, despite the fact that it is a self-limited condition in at least 90% of patients with recovery occurring within 6 to 12 weeks. Recent scrutiny of health care delivery has produced numerous observations documenting a high variability in use of resources for medical conditions including low back pain, but few studies have attempted to examine the medical appropriateness of diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.
authors.affiliation: Emory Spine Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Decatur, GA, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Boden
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005845:Georgia; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D008485:Medical Audit; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review