Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Review of the Medical Evidence Regarding the Surgical Treatment of Low Back Pain

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Surgery for Low Back Pain

  • 1576 Accesses

Abstract

While there is some convincing evidence that surgical treatment for low back pain (LBP) may be reasonable for many conditions, the medical evidence discussed is lacking to support this categorically. Successful LBP relief with surgery intervention occurs most frequently in patients with a definitive source to their pain. The poor predictability of pain relief seen in many cases may be related to our incomplete understanding of the etiology of LBP and our relatively poor ability to identify a cause. More research is needed to elucidate these uncertainties before decisive conclusions can be met.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Ahmed M, Bjurholm A, Kreicbergs A et al (1993) Neuropeptide Y, tyrosine hydroxylase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the vertebral bodies, discs, dura mater, and spinal ligaments of the rat lumbar spine. Spine 18:268–273

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Am P, Blood EA, Frymoyer JW et al (2008) SPORT lumbar intervertebral disk herniation and back pain: does treatment, location or morphology matter? Spine 33(4):428–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bentsen SB, Wahl AK, Hanestad BR et al (2007) Outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain treated using instrumented fusion. Scand J Caring Sci 21:71–78

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bertagnoli R, Yue JJ, Shah RV et al (2005) The treatment of disabling single-level lumbar discogenic low back pain with total disc arthroplasty utilizing the ProDisc prosthesis. Spine 30:2230–2236

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Biyani A, Andersson GBJ (2004) Low back pain: pathophysiology and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 12: 106–115

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Blumenthal S, McAfee PC, Guyer RD et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter food and drug administration investigational device exemptions study of lumbar total disc replacement with the CHARITETM artificial disc versus lumbar fusion; Part I. Spine 30:1565–1575

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Boden SD, Davis DO, Dina ST et al (1990) Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. J Bone Joint Surg Am 72:403–408

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Boden SD, Kang J, Sandhu H et al (2002) Use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 to achieve posterolateral lumbar spine fusion in humans. Spine 27: 2662–2673

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Brodke DS, Ritter SM (2004) Nonoperative management of low back pain and lumbar disc degeneration. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86:1810–1818

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brox JI, Sorensen R, Friis A et al (2003) Randomized clinical trial of lumbar instrumented fusion and cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic low back pain and disc degeneration. Spine 28:1913–1921

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Brox JI, Reikeras O, Nygaard O et al (2006) Lumbar instrumented fusion compared with cognitive intervention and exercise in patients with chronic back pain after previous surgery for disc herniation: a prospective randomized controlled study. Pain 122:145–155

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Carragee EJ (2005) Persistent low back pain. N Engl J Med 352:1891–1898

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Carragee EJ (2006) Surgical treatment of lumbar disc disorders. JAMA 296:2485–2487

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Carragee EJ, Tanner CM, Yang B et al (1999) False-positive findings on lumbar discography. Spine 24:2542–2547

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Carragee EJ, Lincoln T, Parmar VS et al (2006) A gold standard evaluation of the “Discogenic Pain” diagnosis as determined by provocative discography. Spine 31:2115–2123

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Christensen FB, Hansen ES, Eiskjaer SP et al (2002) Circumferential lumbar spinal fusion with Brantigan cage versus posterolateral fusion with titanium Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation: a prospective, randomized clinical study of 146 patients. Spine 27:2674–2683

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. David T (2007) Long term results of one-level lumbar arthroplasty. Spine 32:661–666

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Dimar JR, Glassman SD, Burkus KJ et al (2006) Clinical outcomes and fusion success at 2 years of single-level instrumented posterolateral fusions with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2/compression resistant matrix versus iliac crest bone graft. Spine 31:2534–2539

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Fairbank J, Frost H, Wilson-MacDonald J et al (2005) Randomised controlled trial to compare surgical stabilisation of the lumbar spine with an intensive rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain: the MRC spine stabilisation trial. BMJ 330:1233

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Fritzel P, Hagg O, Nordwall A (2004) Complications in lumbar fusion surgery for chronic low back pain: a comparison of three surgical techniques used in a prospective randomized study. A report from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group. Eur Spine J 12:178–189

    Google Scholar 

  21. Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessberg P et al (2001) 2001 Volvo Award winner in clinical studies: lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain. Spine 26: 2521–2534

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Fritzell P, Hagg O, Wessberg P et al (2002) Chronic low back pain and fusion: a comparison of three surgical techniques. Spine 27:1131–1141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. German JW, Fole KT (2005) Disc arthroplasty in the management of the painful lumbar motion segment. Spine 30:S60–S67

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Gibson JNA, Waddell G (2005) Surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylosis: update Cochrane Review. Spine 30:2312–2320

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gibson JNA, Grant IC, Waddell G (1999) The Cochrane Review of surgery for lumbar disc prolapse and degenerative lumbar spondylosis. Spine 24:1820–1832

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Grotle M, Brox JI, Veierod MB et al (2005) Clinical course and prognostic factors in acute low back pain. Spine 30:976–982

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Gruber HE, Norton HJ, Hanley EN Jr (2000) Anti-apoptotic effects of IGF-1 and PDGF on human intervertebral disc cells in vitro. Spine 25:2153–2157

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Hagg O, Fritzell P, Ekselius L et al (2003) Predictors of outcome in fusion surgery for chronic low back pain. A report from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study. Eur Spine J 12:22–33

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Jensen MC, Brant-Zawadzki MN, Obuchowski N et al (1994) Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. N Engl J Med 331:69–73

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Kim KT, Lee SH, Lee YH et al (2006) Clinical outcomes of 3 fusion methods through the posterior approach in the lumbar spine. Spine 31:1351–1357

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Korhonen T, Karppinen J, Malmivaara A et al (2000) Abstract: treatment of sciatica with infliximab, a monoclonal humanised chimaeric antibody against TNF-α. 29th Annual Meeting Proceedings. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Toronto, Canada, p 14

    Google Scholar 

  32. McAfee PC, Cunningham B, Holsapple G et al (2005) A prospective, randomized, multicenter Food And Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of lumbar total disc replacement with CHARITE artificial disc versus lumbar fusion; part II. Spine 30:1576–1583

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Mirza SK, Deyo RA (2007) Systematic review of randomized trials comparing lumbar fusion surgery to nonoperative care for treatment of chronic back pain. Spine 32:816–823

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Peng B, Wu W, Hou S et al (2005) The pathogenesis of discogenic low back pain. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 87B:62–67

    Google Scholar 

  35. Pradhan BB, Nassar JA, Delamarter RB et al (2002) Single-level lumbar spine fusion: a comparison of anterior and posterior approaches. J Spinal Disord Tech 15:355–361

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Sasso RC, Kitchel SH, Dawson EG (2004) A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial of anterior lumbar interbody fusion using a titanium cylindrical threaded fusion device. Spine 29:113–122

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Schofferman J, Anderson D, Hines R et al (1992) Childhood psychological trauma correlates with unsuccessful lumbar spine surgery. Spine 17(Suppl):S138–S144

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Shim CS, Lee SH, Shin HD et al (2007) CHARITE versus ProDisc. Spine 32:1012–1018

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Trief PM, Grant W, Fredrickson B (2000) A prospective study of psychological predictors of lumbar surgery outcome. Spine 25:2616–2621

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Van Ooij A, Oner FC, Verbout AJ (2003) Complications of artificial disc replacement. J Spinal Disord Tech 16:369–383

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Van Tulder M, Koes B, Bombardier C (2002) Low back pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 16:761–775

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Videbaek TS, Christensen FB, Soegaard R et al (2006) Circumferential fusion improves outcome in comparison with instrumented posterolateral fusion: long term results of a randomized clinical trial. Spine 31:2875–2880

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Webster BS, Snook SH (1990) The cost of compensable low back pain. J Occup Med 32:13–15

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Weinstein JN, Lurie JD, Tosteson TD et al (2006) Surgical vs nonoperative treatment for lumbar disk herniation: the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) observational cohort. JAMA 296:2451–2459

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Weinstein JN, Lurie JD, Tosteson TD et al (2007) Surgical versus nonsurgical treatment for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. N Eng J Med 356:2257–2270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. West JL III, Bradford DS, Ogilvy JW (1991) Results of spinal arthrodesis with pedicle screw-plate fixation. J Bone Joint Surg (Am) 73:1179–1184

    Google Scholar 

  47. Willems PC, Elmans L, Anderson PG et al (2007) Provocative discography and lumbar fusion. Spine 32:1094–1099

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Zigler J, Delamarter R, Spivak JM et al (2007) Results of the prospective, randomized, multicenter Food and Drug Administration investigational device exemption study of the ProDisc-L Total Disc Replacement versus circumferential fusion for the treatment of 1-level degenerative disc disease. Spine 32:1155–1162

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopaedics - Stoneman 10, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Andrew P. White

Authors
  1. Andrew P. White
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Justin G. Brothers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alexander R. Vaccaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew P. White .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Avenue Coghen 21, Bruxelles, 1180, Belgium

    Marek Szpalski

  2. Algemeen Ziekenhuis Monica, Eeuwfeestkliniek, Harmoniestraat 68, Antwerpen, 2018, Belgium

    Robert Gunzburg

  3. Dept. Orthopaedic Surgery, Sahlgrenska Univ.Hospital/Sahlgrenska, Göteborg, 413 45, Sweden

    Björn L. Rydevik

  4. Hopital Pellegrin, CHU Bordeaux, place Amalie Raba Leon, Bordeaux CX, 33076, France

    Jean-Charles Le Huec

  5. München-Harlaching, Orthopädische Klinik, Harlachinger Str. 51, München, 81243, Germany

    H. Michael Mayer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

White, A.P., Brothers, J.G., Vaccaro, A.R. (2010). Review of the Medical Evidence Regarding the Surgical Treatment of Low Back Pain. In: Szpalski, M., Gunzburg, R., Rydevik, B., Le Huec, JC., Mayer, H. (eds) Surgery for Low Back Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_37

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04547-9_37

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-04546-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-04547-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation