Presentations How Cost Effective Are Spine Interventions? | Page 9

Dartmouth University’s Landmark
SPORT study -- DISC HERNIATION
´ Intervertebral disc herniation: SPORT. Jon D. Lurie, MD, Gunnar B. Andersson,
MD, Sigurd Berven, MD, James Weinstein, DO
´ Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial
´ Cost-effectiveness of surgical versus nonoperative treatment for lumbar disc
herniation over a two-year period.
´ N=775 patients who underwent surgery and 416 who underwent nonoperative
treatment for intervertebral disc herniation
´ Average difference in QALYs over the two-years after treatment was 0.21 in
favor of surgery.
´ Surgery was more costly than nonoperative care — $14,137 more expensive for
adult surgery and $34,355 for Medicare populations.
´ The estimated economic value of surgery varied considerably but overall
surgery moderately cost-effective.