Subscribe Latest Edition
Back Pain

IQ: Interesting Quote

Editorial Staff

Despite the growth of alternative health care in the past 20 years, drugs and surgery still lead the way. Even for back pain and associated conditions, doctors are performing an ever-increasing number of spinal surgeries. Ponder this quote from Weinstein, et al., as published in the journal Spine:

"Lumbar fusion rates have increased steadily since 1992 (0.3 per 1,000 enrollees in 1992 to 1.1 per 1,000 enrollees in 2003. ... Medicare spending for inpatient back surgery more than doubled over the decade. Spending for lumbar fusion increased more than 500%, from $75 million to $482 million. In 1992, lumbar fusion represented 14% of total spending for back surgery; by 2003, lumbar fusion accounted for 47% of spending."

Source:

  • Weinstein JN, Lurie JD, Olson PR, Bronner KK, Fisher ES. United States' trends and regional variations in lumbar spine surgery: 1992-2003. Spine;31(23):2707-14.
September 2007
print pdf
Trending
Chiropractic
Would You Rather Be a Chiropractic Therapist?
Would You Rather Be a Chiropractic Therapist?

Because they have yet to pass national legislation protecting the chiropractic profession, Japanese DCs are in a similar situation that U.S. DCs faced. We were fortunate enough to be able to pass chiropractic licensure state by state. The DCs in Japan must accomplish this nationally, which has proved to be an extremely difficult task. And in spite of their efforts, Japanese DCs are currently faced with two chiropractic professions.

Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h)
Personal Injury
9 Delayed-Onset MVA Injuries (Pt. 1)
9 Delayed-Onset MVA Injuries

This article focuses on nine severe injuries that are generally not diagnosable until the third to fourth week following the date of injury, including how to diagnose these severe injuries. The discovery of any of these injuries early can make a significant difference in the case outcome.

 |  Digital Exclusive
Troy Freiheit, DC
News / Profession
Chiropractic at Risk Globally
Chiropractic at Risk Globally

There has long been an attempt by those who are not legitimate doctors of chiropractic to usurp the title of chiropractor from those who have earned their degree from an accredited chiropractic program. This generally happens in countries where the local doctors of chiropractic have yet to pass legislation requiring a degree from an accredited institution. The result is essentially two chiropractic professions. Nowhere is this danger more pronounced than in Japan.

Editorial Staff