The Impact of Smoking in Workers' Compensation Patients Receiving Spinal Cord Stimulation.

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of smoking on clinical outcomes in workers' compensation (WC) patients receiving spinal cord stimulation (SCS). One hundred and ninety-six patients from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation were identified who received SCS with implantation occurring between 2007-2012. Patients were divided into smokers (n = 120) and nonsmokers (n = 76).

Time to Surgery Affects Return to Work Rates for Workers' Compensation Patients With Single-Level Lumbar Disk Herniation.

The optimal timing of lumbar diskectomy in patients with lumbar disk herniation and radiculopathy has not been studied in the workers' compensation (WC) population. A total of 10,592 patients received lost-work compensation from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation for a lumbar disk herniation between 2005 and 2012. The primary outcome was whether subjects return to work (RTW).

Shorter Time to Surgery Is Associated With Better Outcomes for Spondylolisthesis in the Workers' Compensation Population.

This study sought to determine the impact of time to surgery on clinical outcomes in patients with spondylolisthesis in the workers' compensation (WC) population. There is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of time to surgery on patients with spondylolisthesis. Patients receiving WC are known to have worse outcomes following spine surgery compared with the general population.

Multilevel Lumbar Fusion Is a Risk Factor for Lower Return to Work Rates Among Workers' Compensation Subjects With Degenerative Disc Disease.

Discogenic fusion is associated with variable outcomes, especially if multiple levels are fused. This study sought to determine the impact of fused levels on return to work (RTW) status in a workers' compensation (WC) setting. Nine hundred thirty-seven subjects were selected for study.

Lumbar Discography Is Associated With Poor Return to Work Status Following Lumbar Fusion Surgery in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Lumbar discography (LD) is used to guide surgical decision making in patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). Its safety and diagnostic accuracy are under contention. This study evaluates LD's efficacy within the workers' compensation (WC) population.

The Timing of Surgery Affects Return to Work Rates in Patients With Degenerative Lumbar Stenosis in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine how time to surgery affects outcomes for degenerative lumbar stenosis (DLS) in a workers' compensation (WC) setting.

Summary Of Background Data: WC subjects are known to be a clinically distinct population with variable outcomes following lumbar surgery.

Preoperative Opioid Use is a Predictor of Poor Return to Work in Workers' Compensation Patients After Lumbar Diskectomy.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of preoperative opioid use in workers' compensation (WC) patients undergoing lumbar diskectomy (LD).

Summary Of Background Data: The prevalence of back pain among opioid users approached 60%.

Treatment of Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation With or Without Fusion in Workers' Compensation Subjects.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine outcomes after reoperation discectomy with or without fusion surgery for recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH) in the workers' compensation (WC) population.

Summary Of Background Data: RLDH is estimated to occur in 7% to 24% of patients after discectomy.

Preoperative Opioid Use: A Risk Factor for Poor Return to Work Status After Single-level Cervical Fusion for Radiculopathy in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative case-control study.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are: (1) How preoperative opioid use impacts RTW status after single-level cervical fusion for radiculopathy? and (2) What are other postsurgical outcomes affected by preoperative opioid use?

Summary Of Background Data: Opioid use has increased significantly in the past decade. The use of opioids has a drastic impact on workers' compensation population, an at-risk cohort for poorer surgical and functional outcomes than the general population.

Surgical and Functional Outcomes After Multilevel Cervical Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease Compared With Fusion for Radiculopathy: A Study of Workers' Compensation Population.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort comparative study.

Objective: To evaluate presurgical and surgical factors that affect return to work (RTW) status after multilevel cervical fusion, and to compare outcomes after multilevel cervical fusion for degenerative disc disease (DDD) versus radiculopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: Cervical fusion provides more than 90% of symptomatic relief for radiculopathy and myelopathy.

Prolonged Preoperative Opioid Therapy in Patients With Degenerative Lumbar Stenosis in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the impact of prolonged opioid use in the preoperative treatment plan of degenerative lumbar stenosis (DLS).

Summary Of Background Data: Patients undergoing operative treatment for DLS with concomitant opioid use represent a clinically challenging population.

Vertebroplasty and Return to Work for Thoracolumbar Fractures Within the Workers' Compensation Population.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Analyze efficacy of vertebroplasty and its affect on return to work (RTW) in a workers' compensation (WC) population SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Vertebroplasty remains a controversial treatment modality for vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).

Decompression Versus Decompression and Fusion for Degenerative Lumbar Stenosis in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in Workers' compensation (WC) subjects receiving decompression alone versus decompression and fusion for the indication of degenerative spinal stenosis (DLS) without deformity or instability.

Summary Of Background Data: The use of a fusion procedure during lumbar decompression for DLS alone remains controversial.

Neck Pain, Preoperative Opioids, and Functionality After Cervical Fusion.

The use of opioids among patients with workers' compensation claims is associated with tremendous costs, especially for patients who undergo spinal surgery. This study compared return-to-work rates after single-level cervical fusion for degenerative disk disease between patients who received opioids before surgery and patients who underwent fusion with no previous opioid use. All study subjects qualified for workers' compensation benefits for injuries sustained at work between 1993 and 2011.

Return to Work Rates After Single-level Cervical Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease Compared With Fusion for Radiculopathy in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Study Design: A retrospective comparative cohort study.

Objective: To compare return to work (RTW) rates for patients who underwent single-level cervical fusion for radiculopathy compared with fusion for degenerative disc disease (DDD) as an indication for surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Studies have shown that workers' compensation subjects have less favorable surgical and functional outcomes compared with the general population.

Prolonged Preoperative Opioid Therapy Associated With Poor Return to Work Rates After Single-Level Cervical Fusion for Radiculopathy for Patients Receiving Workers' Compensation Benefits.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative cohort study.

Objective: Examine the effect of prolonged preoperative opioid use on return to work (RTW) status after single-level cervical fusion for radiculopathy.

Summary Of Background Data: The use of opioids has a dramatic effect in a workers' compensation population.

Return to Work and Multilevel Versus Single-Level Cervical Fusion for Radiculopathy in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative cohort study.

Objective: Examine the impact of multilevel fusion on return to work (RTW) status and compare RTW status after multi- versus single-level cervical fusion for patients with work-related injury.

Summary Of Background Data: Patients with work-related injuries in the workers' compensation systems have less favorable surgical outcomes.

Workers' Compensation, Return to Work, and Lumbar Fusion for Spondylolisthesis.

Lumbar fusion for spondylolisthesis is associated with consistent outcomes in the general population. However, workers' compensation is a risk factor for worse outcomes. Few studies have evaluated prognostic factors within this clinically distinct population.

Return to Work After Diskogenic Fusion in Workers' Compensation Subjects.

Lumbar fusion for degenerative disk disease (DDD) is associated with variable clinical outcomes. Patients with workers' compensation claims often have worse fusion outcomes than the general population. Few studies have evaluated the risk factors for poor outcomes within this clinically distinct population.

Lumbar Diskography and Failed Back Syndrome in Patients Receiving Workers' Compensation.

Lumbar diskography (LD) is frequently used in the evaluation of patients with degenerative disk disease and diskogenic low back pain. Its safety and diagnostic accuracy are a topic of debate. No study has evaluated the efficacy of LD within the clinically distinct workers' compensation population.

Chronic Opioid Therapy After Lumbar Fusion Surgery for Degenerative Disc Disease in a Workers' Compensation Setting.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate prescription opioid use after lumbar fusion for degenerative disc disease in a workers' compensation (WC) setting.

Summary Of Background Data: Use of opioids for treating chronic low back pain has increased greatly.

Clinical depression is a strong predictor of poor lumbar fusion outcomes among workers' compensation subjects.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Determine how psychosocial factors, particularly depression, impact lumbar fusion outcomes in a workers' compensation (WC) setting.

Summary Of Background Data: WC patients are less likely to return to work (RTW) after fusion.

Single-level lumbar fusion for degenerative disc disease is associated with worse outcomes compared with fusion for spondylolisthesis in a workers' compensation setting.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Compare lumbar fusion outcomes, return-to-work (RTW) status in particular, between workers' compensation (WC) subjects undergoing single-level posterolateral fusion for either spondylolisthesis or degenerative disc disease (DDD).

Summary Of Background Data: Lumbar fusion for spondylolisthesis tends to yield more consistent outcomes than fusion for DDD and discogenic low back pain.