Back surgery can provide benefits beyond improved quality of life for patients

According to a new study, back surgery for the more than 10 million patients who suffer from back pain in the United States can do more than just improve their quality of life.

Based on a press release from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), patients who decide to undergo back surgery to alleviate pain due to a herniated disc may also experience several societal benefit, the study showed.

Study investigators reported in the release the estimated average annual earnings of working patients who undergo surgery are $47,619 compared to $45,694 for those who have non-surgical treatment for the same conditions. Therefore, the annual earnings are increased by $1,925 for those patients who receive surgery, and patients who undergo surgery also miss three fewer days of work each year as compared to patients who elect for nonsurgical treatment.

“Back pain is one of the most common and the most difficult orthopedic conditions for patients, since both standing and sitting may exacerbate the pain. As a result, whether you work in physical labor or sitting at a desk, back pain can affect your ability to work,” Michael Schafer, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery, at Northwestern University in Chicago, and an author of the study, stated in the press release.

The study was published in the April issue of The Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.

“Pain from a herniated disc causes the average employee to miss 26 days of work each year and spend 34 days in bed. Surgery, when appropriate, can lessen the pain, increase productivity and reduce number of missed workdays. This study strengthened the body of research that indicates surgery to repair herniated discs can be effective and cost-effective for patients,” Schafer stated.

Schafer and colleagues found that in a 4-year period they looked at surgery resulted in cost offsets of more than $5,000 due to higher earnings for patients receiving surgery.

However, patients who undergo back surgery can return to work quicker and miss less days than individuals who have back pain and are treated conservatively, according to the release.

To conduct the study, researchers reviewed literature and used patient reported outcomes from prior studies. The collected data were applied to a Markov Decision Model where they estimated direct and indirect costs associated with surgical and continued non-operative treatment for a herniated disc by comparing costs for household income and missed workdays and disability payments.

Disclosure: The AAOS commissioned KNG Health Consulting LLC (KNG Health) and its partner, IHS Global Inc., to prepare this study.