Spinal fusion surgery 'leaves patients worse off'RSS Feed

The spinal fusion surgery commonly used to treat spinal injury could leave patients worse off in the long run, one study has indicated.

Scientists from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine investigated 725 participants with lower back back pain which was treated with fusion surgery and another 725 who experienced a more conservative treatment involving exercise and physical therapy.

According to HealthDay news, it was revealed that patients who had undergone the spinal fusion surgery experienced worse outcomes in almost all categories.

Just one-quarter had gone back to work after two years, compared to the two-thirds that had done so in the non-surgical group.

Additionally, 11 per cent were left permanently disabled, as opposed to the two per cent who did not opt for surgery and 85 per cent continued to use opioid painkillers in comparison with just under half of non-surgical patients.

This comes after Millennium Research Group senior analyst Deanna Venkessel commented that minimally invasive spinal injury treatment is becoming more popular due to less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and quicker times.

News by Serious Law. Expert legal assistance for those affected by spinal injury

Posted by Paul Breen
 

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