Episode notes
PCA Deep Dive: One Surgery Rarely Stays One: What 308,000 Patients Reveal
This episode of PCA Deep Dive, presented by the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association, examines the critical decisions patients face when dealing with severe low back pain. The discussion centers on the impact of choosing initial care providers—comparing conservative management (such as chiropractic care) with surgical pathways. Using data from key studies, including long-term outcomes of lumbar discectomies, the episode highlights how initial decisions influence long-term surgical risks, reoperation rates, and the overall durability of surgical interventions. The insightful analysis emphasizes the importance of sequencing, risk management, and understanding the broader implications of early healthcare choices on lifelong spine health.
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Keywords
ChiropracticPCAChiropractic advocacyChiropractic data analysisChiropractic and opioid useChiropractic and opioidsPCA Deep Dive serieslumbar discectomy repeat spine surgery back pain podcastspine health podcastevidence-based healthcare healthcare outcomes research medicaldecision makinghealthcare utilizationsurgical escalationlifetime risklifetime risk in healthcarecost of spine surgery value-based care pathwaysspine surgery outcomes reoperation rates back surgery risks long-term spine health surgical durability revision discectomy spinal fusion risk conservative spine care peer-reviewed chiropractic care first low back pain treatment evidence-based spine careopioid alternative Etigunta, S.K., Liu, A.M., Gausper, A., Chan, V., Scheer, J., Perry, T., Skaggs, D.L., Walker, C., & Tuchman, A. Spine, Volume 50, Issue 15, August 1, 2025.Long-Term Reoperation Rates After Single-Level Lumbar Discectomy: A Nationwide Cohort Study.