Study finds fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs not effective

Alfred O. Bonati, M.D., internationally known orthopedic surgeon and founder of The Bonati Spine Institute, reports that, in his experience, the failure rates for open back surgery, as recently reported by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, are not out of line.

“This study provides clear evidence that for many patients, fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs do not work”

Researchers reviewed records from 1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau database who had diagnoses of disc degeneration, disc herniation or radiculopathy, a nerve condition that causes tingling and weakness of the limbs. Half of the patients had surgery to fuse two or more vertebrae in hopes of curing low back pain. The other half had no surgery, even though they had comparable diagnoses.

After two years, just 25 percent of those who had surgery had actually returned to work. That's compared to 67 percent of patients who didn't have surgery. In what might be the most troubling study finding, researchers determined that there was a 41 percent increase in the use of painkillers, specifically opiates, in those who had surgery.

"This study provides clear evidence that for many patients, fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs don't work," says the study's lead author, Dr. Nguyen, a researcher at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

"It is alarming that over 40% of the patients that we see at The Bonati Spine Institute are individuals who are suffering from Failed Back Surgery Syndrome due to traditional open back surgery performed at another medical facility," commented Dr. Bonati. "This study provides clear evidence that for many patients, fusion surgeries designed to alleviate pain from degenerating discs do not work," continued Dr. Bonati.