Spineopedia Reviewed Top Historical Studies
2001 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical Studies: Lumbar fusion versus nonsurgical treatment for chronic low back pain: a multicenter randomized controlled trial from the Swedish Lumbar Spine Study Group.
This multicenter, randomized control trial out of Sweden was the 2001 Volvo Award Winner in Clinical Studies. Fritzell et al randomized 294 patients into a surgical treatment group (n=222) versus a non-surgical group (N=72). Patients were randomly assigned treatment and multiple validated outcome measures were utilized. The overall goal of the study was to define “if lumbar fusion […]
18
Accelerated degeneration of the segment adjacent to a lumbar fusion.
The study published by Lee in 1988 was intended to descriptively define conditions and pathomechanics at adjacent segments following a lumbar fusion. This was at a time period where the effectiveness of lumbar fusion for low back pain was one of the foremost questions to be answered and potential complications of the procedure were largely […]
8
Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. A prospective study comparing decompression with decompression and intertransverse process arthrodesis.
This study published by the late Dr. Harry Herkowitz, from William Beaumont Hospital in 1991, is one of the most influential papers of its time. His contributions to the field of degenerative spinal surgery continue to influence current research and treatment of many spinal disorders. This paper in particular, has been referenced over 800 times […]
6
Initial outcome and efficacy of “kyphoplasty” in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
Kyphoplasty was first described in 1987. This paper by Lieberman et al was a phase I efficacy study looking at the use of kyphoplasty in the treatment of symptomatic osteoporotic compression fractures. The study included 70 consecutive kyphoplasty procedures in 30 patients over the course of 11 months. Based on a review of the study, […]
9
Scientific monograph of the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders: redefining “whiplash” and its management.
People who received compensation secondary to an automobile accident related cervical sprain in Quebec Province in 1987 were studied for factors associated with the length of time to return back to activities, recurrence rates of neck complaints, and costs to the Quebec Automobile Insurance Society. During that year, 4757 individuals received compensation. 1743 claims did […]
13
A prospective, randomized study of lumbar fusion. Preliminary results.
This randomized study published in 1993 was one of the first to compare instrumentation to no instrumentation using the prospective approach. One hundred and twenty four patients were included in this study who underwent surgery for a degenerative lumbar condition that included isthmic and degenerative spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis with spinal stenosis and repair […]
15
Iliac crest bone graft harvest donor site morbidity. A statistical evaluation.
This paper published in 1995 is a case series of 261 patients that have had either posterior or anterior iliac crest harvesting for spinal fusion. With current utilization of bone graft substitutes including bone marrow aspiration and BMP, many of the more recently trained spine surgeons may not have had the experience of dealing with complications and […]
16
Outcome measures for low back pain research. A proposal for standardized use.
Dr. Richard Deyo remains one of the most influential physicians and researchers largely in the area of low back pain having published over 300 peer reviewed articles. His work has included focus in outcome measures, evidenced based practice and management of back pain, health policy and economics of care. This paper published in 1998 represents […]
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Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain.
This study published in 1994 was similar to that of one of the most widely cited studies looking at the presence of abnormal findings on MRI scans in asymptomatic patients by Boden et al (1990). Jensen et al evaluated the lumbar MRI scans of 98 asymptomatic volunteers and 27 patients that were symptomatic with low […]
10
Abnormal magnetic-resonance scans of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic subjects. A prospective investigation.
This study published by Boden et al in 1990 was a landmark study that continues to be one of the most referenced works of all time relating to spinal disorders. Despite this study being referenced over 1000 times in the medical literature, there are several modern day concerns /criticisms of this study that must be […]
