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Treatment of the Aging Spine

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European Instructional Lectures

Part of the book series: European Instructional Lectures ((EICL,volume 13))

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Abstract

The aging of the population in the industrialised countries appears to be a non-reversible phenomenon. Increasing life expectancy, due in a great part to the improvement of healthcare, combined with a drastic decrease in birth rate, has led to this situation [40]. The world demographic situation has shifted from a pattern of high birth rates and high mortality rates to one of low birth rates and delayed mortality [23, 40]. In Europe, the proportion of subjects over 65 was 10.8 % in 1950, 14 % in 1970, 19.1 % in 1995 and is projected by some sources at 30.1 % in 2025 and 42.2 % in 2050 [20]. The proportion of subjects over 75 has grown from 2.7 % in 1950 to 5.2 % in 1995 and is projected at 9.1 % in 2025 and 14.6 % in 2050 [20]. However, this trend is not limited to industrialised countries: The developing countries’ share of the world’s population above 65 is projected to increase from 59 to 71 %. The global consequences of this distortion of the age pyramid on healthcare development, access and costs are huge [29]. For instance approximately 59 % of US residents over 65 are affected by osteoarthritis, which is the main cause of disability. Back and neck pain are amongst the most frequently encountered complaints of all people and the nature of the spine renders those problems highly complex to investigate and to treat.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, Montreal (CND), Orthopädische Klinik Bern, Hirslanden - Salem Spital, Schänzlistrasse 39, 3000, Bern 25, Switzerland

    Max Aebi

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Correspondence to Max Aebi .

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  1. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, HA7 4LP, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    George Bentley

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Aebi, M. (2013). Treatment of the Aging Spine. In: Bentley, G. (eds) European Instructional Lectures. European Instructional Lectures, vol 13. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36149-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36149-4_11

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