Increasing Rates of Cervical and Lumbar Spine Surgery in the United States, 1979–1990

STUDY DESIGN: Data from annual national surveys of hospitalizations were used to review trends. OBJECTIVES: The trends in rates of hospitalizations with cervical and lumbar spine surgery were examined among persons > or = 25 years old. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Preliminary analysis of national survey data indicated that during 1979 to 1990 the number of spine operations increased markedly. METHODS: Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were used to calculate age-adjusted rates of hospitalizations. RESULTS: From 1979-81 to 1988-90, in each sex, the rate of hospitalizations with cervical spine surgery increased > 45%, with the rates for cervical fusion surgery increasing > 70%. The rate of hospitalizations with lumbar spine surgery increased > 33% in each sex, with the rate for lumbar fusion surgery increasing > 60% in each sex, the rate for lumbar disc surgery increasing 40% among males and 21% among females, and the rate for lumbar exploration/decompression surgery increasing > 65% in each sex. CONCLUSIONS: Between 1979 and 1990, rates of hospitalizations with cervical and lumbar spine surgery increased markedly among both sexes and for different categories of spine surgery.