Is Academic Department Teaching Status Associated with Adverse Outcomes After Lumbar Laminectomy and Discectomy for Degenerative Spine Diseases?

Surgery for degenerative lumbar disease such as lumbar laminectomy and discectomy are among the most common procedures performed in the United States (US). The incidence of laminectomies in the US increased by 11.3% over a 10-year period from 1998 to 2008 [1]. Similarly, the incidence of lumbar fusion surgery has increased by 55% from 2005-2014 [2]. Lumbar fusion alone experienced a 3.3-fold increase in cost compared with the 2.3-fold increase in cost associated with joint replacement, resulting in a $33.9 billion national expense in 2008 [1].

Source: The Spine Journal - May 18, 2020 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Dean C. Perfetti, Alan V. Job, Alexander M. Satin, Austen D. Katz, Jeff S. Silber, David A. Essig Tags: Clinical Study Source Type: research