TIP OF THE WEEK
June 25, 2010
Did you know...?
Study Shows Poor Spinal Surgery Outcomes for Chronic Low Back Pain
According to University of Cincinnati researchers injured workers who underwent lumbar spinal fusion surgery for chronic low back pain were far less likely to return to work than patients that did not have surgery and were also more likely to take narcotics.
The University of Cincinnati study offers a broader analysis of lumbar spinal surgery outcomes than most previous scientific literature and is the first to measure outcomes using objective, verifiable criteria. The researches studied 725 patients (injured workers) who underwent lumbar spinal surgery for chronic low back pain and compared their outcomes to a control group of 725 patients who suffered the same symptoms but did not undergo surgery. The study period was Jan. 1, 1999, to Dec. 31, 2001.
Instead of using patients' subjective estimates of their own pain levels as an outcome, the doctors used measurable criteria, including the amount of narcotic drugs taken orally, whether the patients had returned to work and whether the patients were disabled by their injuries.
Some key findings of the study include:
- 26% of patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion surgery had returned to work two years afterward, while 67% of the patients in a control group were back on the job two years after injury.
- For patients who underwent surgery, 36% suffered complications.
- Spinal-surgery patients were 3.98 times less likely to return to work if they had an attorney representing them in their workers' compensation claims, while patients who did not undergo surgery but were represented by an attorney were 5.83 times less likely to return to work.
- Eighty-five percent of patients who underwent surgery took narcotic painkillers, measured at least two years after surgery. That compares to 49% of non-surgical patients, measured at least two years after injury.
- Surgical patients increased their dosage of medications by an average of 41%, measured at least two years after their operations. The average dose was equal to 62 mg of morphine per day.
- Although fewer non-surgical patients took pain medications, the ones who did took higher doses. The average dose for non-surgical patients was the equivalent of 65 mg of morphine per day, compared to 62 mg for surgical patients.
- Permanent disability rates were 11% for surgical patients and 2% for patients who did not undergo surgery.
Researchers say they haven’t finished mining all of the data collected during the study and a wealth of information remains to be discovered. For example, so far the research examines only oral narcotics taken by the spinal surgery patients and the control group, not pain medications that may have been administered through lollipops (fentanyl), injection or by other means. Researchers plan on looking in to the medication in much more detail including expanding into anti-depression, pain medication, and muscle relaxants since most of the patients are taking a combination of these.
Source: WorkCompCentral
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Holiday Hours – OHS-COMPCARE and Adult Quick Care will be closed on Monday July 5th in observance of the 4th of July holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday July 6th.
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FLU SHOTS – We are already receiving inquiries about flu shots for this fall. OHS-COMPCARE will offer seasonal flu shots to clients again in 2010. To be put on the list to be scheduled for an on-site or to learn more please contact client services at 816-561-2105 (option 1) or by email at customerservice@ohscompcare.com.
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OHS-COMPCARE now featuring Adult Quick Care (Urgent Care Services) has seven (7) area clinical facilities:
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Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility |
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19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200 |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
Grandview, MO 64030 |
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816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
816-761-4664 |
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After Hours Available *Now open Saturday 9am – 1pm |
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KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility |
KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility |
Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
Kansas City, MO 64120 |
Kansas City, KS 66102 |
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816-842-2020 |
816-483-5550 |
913-596-2774 |
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Adult Quick Care provides Urgent Care to Adults and Adolescents Age 14 and Older.
No appointment is necessary at Adult Quick Care.
When you are sick or have a new injury, Adult Quick Care is your affordable, time saving choice for quality care.
To learn more about Adult Quick Care please call 816-559-6320 or visit www.adultquickcare.com.