Guidelines for the performance of fusion procedures for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Part 3: assessment of economic outcome.
Lumbar fusion may be associated with a high short-term cost, especially if instrumentation is placed; however, there appear to be long-term economic benefits associated with lumbar fusion including resumption of employment. To describe the economic impact of lumbar fusion for degenerative disease adequately, it is important to define the patient population treated with fusion and to compare efficacy as well as the costs of other treatment alternatives. Any such analysis should include both short- and long-term costs and benefits.
Resnick
Daniel K
DK
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA. Resnick@neurosurg.wisc.edu
Choudhri
Tanvir F
TF
Dailey
Andrew T
AT
Groff
Michael W
MW
Khoo
Larry
L
Matz
Paul G
PG
Mummaneni
Praveen
P
Watters
William C
WC
Wang
Jeffrey
J
Walters
Beverly C
BC
Hadley
Mark N
MN
D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*