Guideline Adherence Decreases for Back Pain Management and Spine Care, Study Finds

Back pain treatment and spine care have diverged significantly from best-practice guidelines, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study examined nearly 24,000 visits for spine complaints between 1999 and 2010. Researchers tracked imaging, narcotic prescription, physician referrals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or acetaminophen prescription and physical therapy referrals.

Researchers found that NSAID use decreased from 36.9 percent to 24.5 percent, while narcotic use increased from 19.3 to 29.1 percent. Physician referrals increased from 6.8 to 14 percent, and magnetic resonance images or tomograms increased from 7.2 to 11.3 percent.

Currently, best-practice guidelines for back pain and spine care involve using less specialized therapies and exercises as the first line of treatment.

The study concludes that improving back pain and spine care could create significant cost savings and quality improvements in the healthcare system. 

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