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Lumbar Disc Surgery Without Fusion
Lumbar disc surgery without fusion (using surgery to remove a small part of the spinal disc that is pressing on a nerve in the back causing pain in the leg) is shown on the following chart. Back and neck surgical procedures are in Chart 3.
If every where in Maine were the same the bars would all be short. We expect that things will be somewhat different in one town when compared to the rest of the state. Bars to the left indicate less often than expected, bars to the right indicate more often than expected.
When serious nerve damage causing serious weakness or numbness does not occur, a patient can wait for the body to cure itself. For some people the pain is too great and the time is too long to wait.
We do not think that people in Pittsfield are tougher than the people in Presque Isle. We do believe that both communities have the same access to appropriate care.
The difference then between Pittsfield where surgery is not used as much as average from Presque Isle where surgery is used more than average likely is due to treating surgeon’s preference.
Each patient needs to have all the information possible before deciding on a specific treatment.
After you review the chart you can link to the full table to locate communities not shown on the chart.
