Increasing rates of cervical and lumbar spine surgery in the United States, 1979-1990.

STUDY

DESIGN

Data from annual national surveys of hospitalizations were used to review trends.

OBJECTIVES

The trends in rates of hospitalizations with cervical and lumbar spine surgery were examined among persons > or = 25 years old.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Preliminary analysis of national survey data indicated that during 1979 to 1990 the number of spine operations increased markedly.

METHODS

Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were used to calculate age-adjusted rates of hospitalizations.

RESULTS

From 1979-81 to 1988-90, in each sex, the rate of hospitalizations with cervical spine surgery increased > 45%, with the rates for cervical fusion surgery increasing > 70%. The rate of hospitalizations with lumbar spine surgery increased > 33% in each sex, with the rate for lumbar fusion surgery increasing > 60% in each sex, the rate for lumbar disc surgery increasing 40% among males and 21% among females, and the rate for lumbar exploration/decompression surgery increasing > 65% in each sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Between 1979 and 1990, rates of hospitalizations with cervical and lumbar spine surgery increased markedly among both sexes and for different categories of spine surgery.