Surgery for Low Back Pain [Hardcover]

Marek Szpalski (Editor), Robert Gunzburg (Editor), Björn L. Rydevik (Editor), Jean-Charles Le Huec (Editor), H. Michael Mayer (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 3642045464 | ISBN-13: 978-3642045462 | Publication Date: June 7, 2010 | Edition: 1st Edition.

Low back pain is a very common problem that is increasingly being treated surgically. This book aims to evaluate carefully the possible surgical approaches to low back pain, with detailed appraisal of the factors leading to their success or failure. It begins by explaining the scientific basis for surgery and considering the different diagnostic techniques that may be employed, thereby elucidating the surgical rationale, indications, and contraindications. The value of conservative options is also assessed to help the reader weigh the need for surgery. The various surgical modalities, including the most recent, are then fully described and evaluated with the aid of numerous illustrations. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to evidence-based analysis of the outcome of surgery in patients with low back pain. This book will be invaluable to orthopaedic and neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, and all who are concerned with the effective treatment of this often debilitating condition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: “This book evaluates the various surgical approaches to treating low back pain, with appraisal of the factors leading to their success or failure. It also discusses applicable treatment regimens other than surgery. … The authors intend the book for orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, psychologists, and social security/insurance specialists. However, it is best suited for neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons. … This is a well-written and useful book. … It deals specifically … relevant to its subject, no more and no less.” (Samuel J. Chmell, Doody’s Review Service, July, 2010)

From the Back Cover

Low back pain is a very common problem. Various treatments are available, but surgery has acquired increasing importance. In the United States, low back pain is now the principal reason for spinal surgery, and the number of procedures performed for this reason is similar to the number of total hip replacements. Consequently there is a need for careful evaluation of the possible surgical approaches to low back pain, with detailed appraisal of the factors leading to their success or failure. This book aims to meet such a need. It explains the scientific basis for surgery and considers the different diagnostic techniques that may be employed, thereby providing a better understanding of the surgical rationale, indications, and contraindications. The value of conservative options is also assessed to help the reader weigh the need for surgery. The various surgical modalities, including the most recent, are then fully described and evaluated with the aid of numerous illustrations. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to evidence-based analysis of the outcome of surgery in patients with low back pain. This book will be invaluable to orthopaedic and neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, neurologists, and all who are concerned with the effective treatment of this often debilitating condition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 299 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st Edition. edition (June 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3642045464
• ISBN-13: 978-3642045462
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,956,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Questionable pro-chiropractic bias, January 1, 2011

By 

A. Botnick "AJ Botnick" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surgery for Low Back Pain (Hardcover)

I skimmed a few pages from the preview of the chapter on chiropractic written by Christopher Colloca DC. Dr. Colloca is the founder and owner of an equipment company who sells electric manipulation guns to chiropractors (Neuromechanical Innovations) so he is always promoting the profession with a heavy bias that he tries to make appear scientifically credible (but generally fails except to the uninformed). I have yet to see him write anything critical of it. Likewise in skimming his contribution to this surgery text I see heavy bias. First, the statistics he uses reference ten year old surveys that do not reflect the declining acceptance of chiropractic in the healthcare marketplace, giving the false impression that chiropractic is growing when it is actually in decline. He fails to mention the two central problems of chiropractic: first that it is based on outdated false biomechanical theory (positional listing systems, assumptions of ligamentous behavior) which leads to failure to achieve long term gains in biomechanical stability (exposing as fraud the chiropractor's claim to be effective in this niche) and second that because of chiropractic's traditional bias against all things medical it lacks the scope to effect this restoration of passive ligament stability. For patients this leads to frustrating palliative care where joint problems are never really addressed, just temporarily palliated; placing them in a cycle of dependency on the chiropractor. Although lucrative for Dr. Colloca's business and the individual chiropractor this does not promote optimal care. Given this lack of good editorial judgment I question the quality of the remainder of the book.