title: Guidelines for the performance of fusion procedures for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Part 3: assessment of economic outcome.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA. Resnick@neurosurg.wisc.edu
authors: Daniel K
authors: DK
authors: Resnick
authors: Tanvir F
authors: TF
authors: Choudhri
authors: Andrew T
authors: AT
authors: Dailey
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: Groff
authors: Larry
authors: L
authors: Khoo
authors: Paul G
authors: PG
authors: Matz
authors: Praveen
authors: P
authors: Mummaneni
authors: William C
authors: WC
authors: Watters
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Beverly C
authors: BC
authors: Walters
authors: Mark N
authors: MN
authors: Hadley
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*