title: Outcome following anterior cervical discectomy in compensation patients.
abstract: This is a retrospective study aimed to analyse the clinical outcomes of patients following anterior cervical decompression and fusion for radiculopathy in worker's compensation, third party and non-compensable group. The outcome of 224 cases operated between 1991 to 1998 were analysed. Only patients with radiculopathy due to a cervical disc protrusion and spondylosis were included. There were 140 non-compensable patients, 58 worker's compensation and 26 third party. There was no statistical difference in radiological fusion between the three groups (P=0.46). The worker's compensation and third party claimant groups, had an 'excellent' outcome at 65% and 69% respectively, compared to the non-compensation group at 79% (P=0.042). Rates of poor outcome were high in the worker's compensation group (9%) compared with third party (4%) and the non-compensable group (5%). Financial incentives seem to significantly influence the outcome of cervical disc surgery in our patient population.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Registrar, The Canberra Hospital, Woden ACT. ralphmobbs@hotmail.com
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mobbs
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gollapudi
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Chandran
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*