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Current research indicates that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has a positive short-term impact on outcomes, such as quality of life, pain, and productivity in patients with chronic neuropathic pain. However, there is a need for studies on larger population samples. This study used data from Swedish national registers to analyze change and predictors of sick leave and disability pension 2 years before and after SCS treatment. Patients with SCS implanted between 2006 and 2017, and a reference group consisting of 5 individuals matched to each SCS patient without replacement with respect to age, sex, and region of residence, were included. A difference-in-difference approach was used to compare the average change (2 years after treatment vs 2 years before treatment) in net disability days and indirect cost related to disability days for the SCS group, compared with the average change for the reference group. The results showed that SCS treatment in Sweden is associated with a decrease of 21 disability days and consequent decrease in indirect cost of euro4127 in working age patients. Large work loss prior to index date was also demonstrated (average 214 days before 1 year), indicating a significant burden on the patient, employers, and the society at large. The number of disability days varied considerably depending on age, sex, socioeconomic variables, and comorbidities; however, the effect of SCS seemed to have little association with patient characteristics. This economic benefit needs to be considered, as well as the clinical outcome, when evaluating the full societal value of SCS.

Antibiotics have been suggested as treatment for selected patients with chronic back pain, with or without leg pain, and in association with Modic changes type 1 (MC1) on MRI (Modic et al. 1988, Albert et al. 2013a). The hypothesis is that various bacteria, but above all the common skin bacterium Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes), would spread hematogenously to degenerated discs, where a “low-grade subclinical infection” would trigger an inflammatory reaction and cause MC1 (Albert et al. 2013a), irritate nociceptive nerve endings, and induce pain. Other studies have not found this connection, or have been cautious in their conclusions (Birkenmaier 2013, Urquhart et al. 2015) but have not had the same public impact. Since back/leg pain is common, and Modic changes occur in people with or without back/leg pain (Wang et al. 2012), and as antibiotic resistance is a major health threat (Carlsson et al. 2019), the suggestion of treating chronic back/leg pain with antibiotics must be thoroughly investigated. Research groups in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have independently conducted studies from 3 different perspectives, but with a focus on the same basic questions: is there a causative link between Modic changes, back pain, and bacteria. The studies, all published during 2019, conclude that antibiotics should not be used for back/leg pain, unless there is a clinically relevant infection in the disc/vertebra (discitis/spondylitis).

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Study Design: Observational study of prospectively collected data. Objectives: Patients with chronic low back pain resistant to nonoperative treatment often face a poor prognosis for recovery. The aim of the current study was to compare the variation and outcome of surgical treatment of degenerative disc disease in the Scandinavian countries based on The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement core spine data sets. Methods: Anonymized individual level data from 3 national registers were pooled into 1 database. At the time of surgery, the patient reports data on demographics, lifestyle topics, comorbidity, and data on health-related quality of life such as Oswestry Disability Index, Euro-Qol-5D, and back and leg pain scores. The surgeon records diagnosis, type of surgery performed, and complications. One-year follow-ups are obtained with questionnaires. Baseline and 1-year follow-up data were analyzed to expose any differences between the countries. Results: A total of 1893 patients were included. At 1-year follow-up, 1315 (72%) patients responded. There were statistically significant baseline differences in age, smoking, comorbidity, frequency of previous surgery and intensity of back and leg pain. Isolated fusion was the primary procedure in all the countries ranging from 84% in Denmark to 76% in Sweden. There was clinically relevant improvement in all outcome measures except leg pain. Conclusions: In homogenous populations with similar health care systems the treatment traditions can vary considerably. Despite variations in preoperative variables, patient reported outcomes improve significantly and clinically relevant with surgical treatment.

Contains fulltext : 214046.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)

PURPOSE: Yearly incidence of surgery for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation varies and is 29/100,000 in Sweden, 46/100,000 in Denmark and 58/100,000 in Norway. This variation was used to study whether differences in surgical incidence were associated with differences in preoperative patient characteristics as well as patient-reported outcomes.METHODS: Data from the national spine registers in Sweden, Denmark and Norway during 2011-2013 were pooled, and 9965 individuals, aged 18-65 years, of which 6468 had one-year follow-up data, were included in the study. Both absolute and case-mix-adjusted comparisons of the primary outcome Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the secondary outcomes EQ-5D-3L, and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for leg and back pain were performed. Case-mix adjustment was done for baseline age, sex, BMI, smoking, co-morbidity, duration of leg pain and preoperative value of the dependent variable.RESULTS: Mean improvement in the outcome variables exceeded previously described minimal clinical important change in all countries. Mean (95% CI) final scores of ODI were 18 (17-18), 19 (18-20) and 15 (15-16) in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, respectively. Corresponding results of EQ-5D-3L were 0.74 (0.73-0.75), 0.73 (0.72-0.75) and 0.75 (0.74-0.76). Results of NRS leg and back pain behaved similarly. Case-mix adjustment did not alter the findings substantially.CONCLUSION: We found no clear association between incidence of surgery for lumbar disc herniation and preoperative patient characteristics as well as outcome, and the differences between the countries were lower than the minimal clinical important difference in all outcomes. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Background: In the procedures of surgical pathways it is important to create opportunities for developing active forms of engagement and extending the patients’ health maintenance knowledge, which is essential in nursing. One way is to understand more about the concept of coproduction. Objective: The purpose was to use experiences from spinal surgery patients’ narratives to explore the conceptual model of healthcare service coproduction. Method: A prospective qualitative explorative approach was performed and analyzed in two phases with inductive and deductive content analysis of data retrieved from five focus group interviews of 25 patients with experiences from spinal surgery interventions. Result: The findings indicate that mutual trust and respect, as well as guidance given in dialogue, are two important domains. An illustration of how to apply the conceptual model of healthcare service coproduction was revealed in the descriptions of the three core concepts co-planning, co-execution and civil discourse. Conclusion: This study highlights what is needed to reach coproduction in healthcare services concerning patients with spinal disorders. Development of care plans that focuses on co-planning and co-execution is recommended which are structured and customizable for each patient situation to make coproduction to occur.

Background Context: Decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is the most common spinal procedure in the elderly. To avoid persisting low back pain, adding arthrodesis has been recommended, especially if there is a coexisting degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, this strategy remains controversial, resulting in practice-based variation. Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate in a pragmatic study if surgical selection criteria and variation in use of arthrodesis in three Scandinavian countries can be linked to variation in treatment effectiveness. Study Design: This is an observational study based on a combined cohort from the national spine registries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Patient Sample: Patients aged 50 and older operated during 2011–2013 for LSS were included. Outcome Measures: Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs): Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (primary outcome), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for leg pain and back pain, and health-related quality of life (Euro-Qol-5D) were reported. Analysis included case-mix adjustment. In addition, we report differences in hospital stay. Methods: Analyses of baseline data were done by analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square, or logistic regression tests. The comparisons of the mean changes of PROMs at 1-year follow-up between the countries were done by ANOVA (crude) and analysis of covariance (case-mix adjustment). Results: Out of 14,223 included patients, 10,890 (77%) responded at 1-year follow-up. Apart from fewer smokers in Sweden and higher comorbidity rate in Norway, baseline characteristics were similar. The rate of additional fusion surgery (patients without or with spondylolisthesis) was 11% (4%, 47%) in Norway, 21% (9%, 56%) in Sweden, and 28% (15%, 88%) in Denmark. At 1-year follow-up, the mean improvement for ODI (95% confidence interval) was 18 (17–18) in Norway, 17 (17–18) in Sweden, and 18 (17–19) in Denmark. Patients operated with arthrodesis had prolonged hospital stay. C