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Lumbar fusion questionable for chronic Low Back Pain
Lumbar fusion surgery in patients with chronic low back pain does not appear to offer any major benefit in outcomes over conservative rehabilitation programs incorporating physical activity and cognitive behavioral therapy according to a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (Bhandri, M etal, Aug.16/05). The study also concluded that surgery patients may have a slightly lower, but clinically unimportant decrease in disability scores, in exchange for an increased risk of complications, higher medical costs and no difference in quality of life at two years after surgery.
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