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Previous Volume 350:722-726 February 12, 2004 Number 7 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

	Full Text PDF PDA Full Text Purchase this article Perspective by Lipson, S. J. Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited E-mail When Letters Appear PubMed Citation

The use of spinal-fusion surgery in the United States is rapidly increasing. National survey data indicate that the annual number of spinal-fusion operations rose by 77 percent between 1996 and 2001.¹ In contrast, hip replacement and knee arthroplasty increased by 13 to 14 percent during the same interval (Figure 1). Spinal-fusion surgery is expensive, with the average hospital bill more than $34,000, excluding professional fees.¹

View larger version (6K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Annual Number of Knee-Arthroplasty, Hip-Replacement, and Spinal-Fusion Operations in the United States, on the Basis of the National Inpatient Sample. Data are from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.1

 
The rationale for . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Spinal-Fusion Surgery for Degenerative Conditions

The Value of Surgical Implants for Spinal Fusion

Complications and Reoperations

Recommendations

Source Information

From the Departments of Medicine (R.A.D.) and Orthopedic Surgery (S.K.M.) and the Center for Cost and Outcomes Research (R.A.D., S.K.M.), University of Washington, Seattle; and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden (A.N.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Deyo at 146 N. Canal Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98103.

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