Back surgery can provide benefits beyond improved quality of life for patients

http://www.healio.com/spine-surgery/pain-management/news/online/%7Be9eb7183-6937-4833-bc7b-6ff709ada074%7D/back-surgery-can-provide-benefits-beyond-improved-quality-of-life-for-patients

Back surgery can provide benefits beyond improved quality of life for patients

• April 14, 2014

According to a new study, back surgery for the more than 10 million patients who suffer from back pain in the United States can do more than just improve their quality of life.

To conduct the study, researchers reviewed literature and used patient reported outcomes from prior studies. The collected data were applied to a Markov Decision Model where they estimated direct and indirect costs associated with surgical and continued non-operative treatment for a herniated disc by comparing costs for household income and missed workdays and disability payments.

Disclosure: The AAOS commissioned KNG Health Consulting LLC (KNG Health) and its partner, IHS Global Inc., to prepare this study.