Jack Stern, MD, PhD, Neurosurgeon, Spine Specialist, discusses whether surgeons are accurately diagnosing lumbar disc pathology before proceeding to spinal fusion or artificial disc insertion.

There has been a rise in the number of such surgeries performed in the US, and Dr. Stern questions whether there has been a loosening of indications.

References and Resources
Glassman SD, Carreon LY, Djurasovic M, Dimar JR, Johnson JR, Puno RM, Campbell MJ.
Lumbar fusion outcomes stratified by specific diagnostic indication.
Spine J. 2009 Jan-Feb;9(1):13-21. Epub 2008 Sep 19.

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