Occupational and biopsychosocial risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Objective: To investigate a biopsychosocial model of risk for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In addition, a host of exploratory psychosocial variables was investigated as potential risk factors for CTS.

Methods: A case-control design was used comparing 87 CTS and 74 sex-matched general orthopedic patients from an outpatient orthopedic clinic.

Presurgical biopsychosocial variables predict medical, compensation, and aggregate costs of lumbar discectomy in Utah workers' compensation patients.

Background Context: Elective lumbar discectomy among injured workers is a prevalent spine surgery that often requires a lengthy rehabilitation. It is important to determine presurgical biopsychosocial predictors of compensation and medical costs in such patients.

Purpose: To determine if presurgical biopsychosocial variables are predictive of compensation and medical costs in a cohort of Utah patients who have undergone open or microlumbar discectomy that are receiving workers' compensation.

Obesity and litigation predict workers' compensation costs associated with interbody cage lumbar fusion.

Background Context: Results of lumbar fusion surgery have been mixed and procedures are costly. Interbody cage lumbar fusion (ICLF) has been advanced to improve arthrodesis and clinical outcomes; however, little attention has been given to ICLF costs or potential predictors of these expenses.

Purpose: To depict medical and compensation costs associated with ICLF in a Utah cohort of patients receiving workers' compensation as well as to investigate predictors of costs.

Presurgical biopsychosocial factors predict multidimensional patient: outcomes of interbody cage lumbar fusion.

Background Context: Interbody cage lumbar fusion (ICLF) has been advanced to improve arthrodesis; however, little attention has been given to quality of life and functional outcomes. Studies suggest that psychosocial factors may be important modifiers of low back surgical outcomes.

Purpose: To depict outcomes of ICLF surgery across multiple dimensions and to investigate presurgical biopsychosocial predictors of these outcomes.

Presurgical biopsychosocial variables predict medical and compensation costs of lumbar fusion in Utah workers' compensation patients.

Background Context: Elective lumbar fusion surgery is a prevalent and costly procedure that requires a lengthy rehabilitation. It is important to identify presurgical biopsychosocial predictors of medical and compensation costs in such patients.

Purpose: To determine if presurgical biopsychosocial variables are predictive of compensation and medical costs in a cohort of Utah lumbar fusion patients receiving workers' compensation.

Outcomes of posterolateral versus BAK titanium cage interbody lumbar fusion in injured workers: a retrospective cohort study.

Lumbar fusion has been criticized for variable patient outcomes, though little is known regarding how outcomes vary across procedures. We examined outcomes of posterolateral versus BAK interbody lumbar fusion in workers' compensation cases. A medical record review and a follow-up survey were completed.