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Rushton A, White L, Heap A, Heneghan N. Evaluation of current surgeon practice for patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery in the United Kingdom. World J Orthop 2015; 6(6): 483-490 [PMID: 26191495 DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v6.i6.483]
World J Orthop. Jul 18, 2015; 6(6): 483-490 Published online Jul 18, 2015. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v6.i6.483
Evaluation of current surgeon practice for patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery in the United Kingdom
Alison Rushton, Louise White, Alison Heap, Nicola Heneghan
Alison Rushton, Nicola Heneghan, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
Louise White, Alison Heap, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Birmingham B15 2TH, United Kingdom
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There are no conflicts of interest arising from this work.
Data sharing statement: No further data are available.
Correspondence to: Dr. Alison Rushton, Senior Lecturer of Physiotherapy, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom. a.b.rushton@bham.ac.uk
Telephone: +44-121-4158597
Received: February 26, 2015 Peer-review started: February 27, 2015 First decision: April 27, 2015 Revised: May 20, 2015 Accepted: June 1, 2015 Article in press: June 2, 2015 Published online: July 18, 2015 Processing time: 138 Days and 18.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: This study surveyed all surgeons carrying out lumbar spinal fusions in the United Kingdom (response rate 73.8%) to ascertain current practice. Eighty-four percent of participants were orthopaedic surgeons and their experience of lumbar spinal fusion ranged from 1-15 years, each performing 4-250 operations in the previous 12 mo. Surgeons consistently saw patients preoperatively, ensured patients are mobile within 3 d of surgery, and valued post-operative physiotherapy. However, variability of protocols, duration of hospital stay, use of discharge criteria, frequency and timing of outpatient follow up, use of written patient information and outcome measures was considerable. Much variability was explained through patient-centred care.
