Key result
Spinal fusion and disc replacement lose routine NICE recommendation for non-specific low back pain.
NICE guidelines recommend against routine spinal fusion and lumbar disc replacement for non-specific low back pain outside of clinical trials.
NICE guidelines restrict fusion to RCTs and prohibit disc replacement for non-specific low back pain; challenges prior surgical practice and supports further trials.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued guidelines that state fusion for non-specific low back pain should only be performed as part of a randomised controlled trial, and that lumbar disc replacement should not be performed. Thus, spinal fusion and disc replacement will no longer be routine forms of treatment for patients with low back pain. This annotation considers the evidence upon which these guidelines are based. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1003–1005.
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N. V. Todd (2017) conducted an editorial in non-specific low back pain. spinal fusion and lumbar disc replacement was evaluated. Spinal fusion and lumbar disc replacement will no longer be routine treatments for non-specific low back pain according to NICE guidelines.
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