Studies show that in orthopedic departments, spinal fusions are not only one of the most common, costly, and lucrative procedures, but also one of the most unnecessary. By 2015, 40% of spinal fusions performed in the U.S. were for conditions not backed by strong evidence of effectiveness. According to a review of Medicare claims data from 2016-2018, out of 7 low-value procedures assessed, inpatient spinal fusions were affiliated the most with hospital-acquired conditions, adverse patient safety indicators and unplanned hospital admissions after outpatient procedures. Read more
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