Individuals enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board, and School Employees Benefits Board coverage - and those accessing behavioral health services - will not experience a disruption in care due to the federal government shutdown. In addition, health care providers will continue to be paid for the services they provide. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and share updates if anything changes.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common condition associated with low back pain in many individuals. Lumbar fusion surgery, which involves the creation of a permanent connection across the vertebral space by means of a graft, is often considered when conservative treatments fail to relieve the patient's back and/or leg pain.
Status: Decision completed
Due to the prevalence of low back pain and the varying nature of the conditions that underlie it, numerous management options are available. These options vary substantially in their intensity, degree of invasiveness, and most importantly, level of evidence regarding their effectiveness. Although there is lack of consensus on when lumbar fusion surgery is indicated, how the surgery should be performed, and long-term prognosis after surgery (Christensen, 2004), the number of lumbar fusion surgeries performed in the U.S. has nevertheless increased more than two-fold between 2000 and 2009 (Yoshihara, 2014). In particular, some studies have shown poor success rates for lumbar fusion when used to treat low back pain caused by disk degeneration alone (Herkowitz, 1995). There is significant interest on the part of patients, clinicians, policymakers and other stakeholders in evaluating the clinical and economic impact of lumbar fusion for patients with chronic low back pain and degenerative disc disease (DDD).
| Type | Materials |
|---|---|
| Assessment (2015) | |
| Update literature (2012) | |
| Assessment (2007) |
