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Acta Neurochirurgica
Published in: Acta Neurochirurgica 5/2016

01-05-2016 | Clinical Article - Spine

The use of surgery for cervical degenerative disease in Norway in the period 2008–2014

A population-based study of 6511 procedures

Authors: Jon-André Kristiansen, Lise Balteskard, Haldor Slettebø, Øystein P. Nygaard, Bjarne Lied, Frode Kolstad, Tore K. Solberg

Published in: Acta Neurochirurgica | Issue 5/2016

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Abstract

Background

The incidence rate of surgical treatment of cervical degenerative diseases (CDD) has increased in the USA and a large geographic variation has been shown. Little is known about such rates in Scandinavia and Europe. The aim of this population-based study was to (1) investigate annual incidence rates of operations performed in Norway, (2) to compare trends and variations in rates for surgical indications with and without myelopathy, and (3) to compare variations in the use of surgery between residential areas.

Methods

Patients operated for CDD and recorded in the Norwegian Patient Registry from 2008 to 2014 were evaluated according to residential areas (resident county and Regional Health Authority (RHA) area), age, gender, treating hospital, and whether myelopathy was present or not. Surgical rates were adjusted for age and gender. Data from private health care were also included.

Results

The annual surgical rates increased by 74.1 % from 2008 to 2014 (12.5/100,000 inhabitants). The largest increase was for surgical treatment of radiculopathy, 86.5 %. Surgical rates for CDD varied in 2014 with a ratio of 1.5 between the highest and lowest RHA and with a ratio of 2.5 between the different residential counties within one RHA. The treatment rates for myelopathy were relatively stable over time, but showed an increase of 2.1/100,000 (44.6 %) from 2013 to 2014.

Conclusions

Our study shows that the rate of surgical treatment for radiculopathy due to CDD has increased substantially from 2008 to 2014 for all RHAs in Norway. The incidence rate for surgical treatment of myelopathy was more stable. An unexplained and moderate geographic variation was found.
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Metadata
Title
The use of surgery for cervical degenerative disease in Norway in the period 2008–2014
A population-based study of 6511 procedures
Authors
Jon-André Kristiansen
Lise Balteskard
Haldor Slettebø
Øystein P. Nygaard
Bjarne Lied
Frode Kolstad
Tore K. Solberg
Publication date
01-05-2016
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
Acta Neurochirurgica / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 0001-6268
Electronic ISSN: 0942-0940
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-016-2760-1

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