More than one million people are diagnosed and treated each year in the United States for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a condition that occurs from the narrowing of the spinal canal. Peter Staats, M.D., in conjunction with Riverview Medical Center, is offering LSS patients a groundbreaking new procedure, mild (minimally invasive spinal decompression) that safely and therapeutically reduces pain and improves mobility. Read more »
Patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis do not benefit from epidural steroid injections
Researchers at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson examined data on patients being treated for lumbar stenosis and the degenerative spine condition spondylolisthesis and found that patients who received epidural steroid injections (ESI) had a higher rate of crossover to surgery and fared worse in physical health and bodily pain versus those who did not receive ESI, dispelling their pre-study hypothesis. Read more »
Viewing video affects preferences for treatment of low back pain
Viewing an evidence-based video provides support to patients with low back pain in making decisions about whether to undergo surgical versus non surgical treatment, reports a study in a recent issue of Spine. Read more »
Health Canada approves Eli Lilly’s Cymbalta for chronic low back pain treatment
Eli Lilly Canada announced today that Health Canada has approved Cymbalta for the management of chronic low back pain. Read more »
Early physical therapy associated with fewer subsequent injections, surgery, physician visits: Study
The American Physical Therapy Association is pointing to a new study on low back pain in Medicare patients in its efforts to encourage the newly established Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to promptly launch a demonstration project on direct access to physical therapist services that was recommended in the recent health reform law. Read more »
Stem cell treatment may help treat low back pain
Lower back pain affects many people and may be caused by degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae. Read more »
Shorter wait times for back pain patients examined by a Nurse Practitioner
Results of a Toronto Western Hospital study show that patients suffering back pain get quicker diagnosis and treatment when a Nurse Practitioner conducts the first examination. Read more »
Back pain sufferers get quicker diagnosis and treatment when examined by Nurse Practitioner
Results of a Toronto Western Hospital study show that patients suffering back pain get quicker diagnosis and treatment when a Nurse Practitioner conducts the first examination. Read more »
Study compares minimally invasive and open surgeries for lower back pain
Rush University Medical Center is assessing whether minimally invasive surgery to relieve lower back pain differs from open surgery in terms of complication rate, recovery time, outcome and cost. Read more »
Endoscopic laser spine procedures replace traditional open back surgery
The Bonati Spine Institute, the leading center for the patented Bonati Spine Procedures for minimally invasive laser spine surgery, supports recent studies by highly respected organizations such as the Journal of the America Board of Family Medicine and Consumer Reports reporting an unnecessary growth in tests and treatments targeting back pain. Read more »
