Surgical stabilisation of the spine compared with a programme of intensive rehabilitation for the management of patients with chronic low back pain: cost utility analysis based on a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether, from a health provider and patient perspective, surgical stabilisation of the spine is cost effective when compared with an intensive programme of rehabilitation in patients with chronic low back pain.

Design

Economic evaluation alongside a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Secondary care.

Participants

349 patients randomised to surgery (n = 176) or to an intensive rehabilitation programme (n = 173) from 15 centres across the United Kingdom between June 1996 and February 2002.

Main outcome measures

Costs related to back pain and incurred by the NHS and patients up to 24 months after randomisation. Return to paid employment and total hours worked. Patient utility as estimated by using the EuroQol EQ-5D question

SUBMITTER: Rivero-Arias O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC558091 | biostudies-literature | 2005 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature