Observational studyBMJ open2019
Lumbar spine surgery across 15 years: trends, complications and reoperations in a longitudinal observational study from Norway.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 104 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Spine Patient Reported Outcome Measures: a Cohort Observational Study
Management of Perioperative Pain Using Erector Spinae Plane Block in Open Microscopic Lumbar Surgery
Who cites it
104 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 190 citations in OpenAlex.
- The influence of psychological factors on postoperative clinical outcomes in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of topical versus intravenous tranexamic acid in spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC surgery · 2025Pooled it
- Health service utilization for low back pain in Germany between 2000 and 2020-a scoping review of claims data.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025Pooled it
- Outcomes following spinal instrumented fusions in patients with parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2024Pooled it
- Decompression alone versus decompression with instrumented fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials.Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry · 2023Pooled it
- Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for sciatica: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2023Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Epiduroscopy for Patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial of 0.9% Saline Versus Lactated Ringer's Solution on Intraoperative Metabolism Among Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spinal Surgery.International journal of medical sciences · 2026Trial
- ISSLS Prize in Clinical Science 2025: A randomized trial on three different minimally invasive decompression techniques for lumbar spinal stenosis. Five years follow-up from the NORDSTEN-SST.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2025Trial
- Efficacy of Epidural Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome: A Prospective Clinical Study.Pain research & management · 2025Trial
- The efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) versus freehand ESPB in postoperative pain management after lumbar spinal fusion surgery: a randomized, non-inferiority trial.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2024Trial
- Postoperative quality of recovery with erector spinae plane block or thoracolumbar interfascial plane block after major spinal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2024Trial
- Fear of movement was associated with sedentary behaviour 12 months after lumbar fusion surgery in patients with low back pain and degenerative disc disorder.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Trial
- The efficacy of oral vitamin D supplements on fusion outcome in patients receiving elective lumbar spinal fusion-a randomized control trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Trial
- Comparison of 3 Different Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2022Trial
- 10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome with Predominant Leg Pain: Results from a Prospective Study in Patients from the Dutch Healthcare System.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2021Trial
- Effect of Electroacupuncture vs Sham Treatment on Change in Pain Severity Among Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2020Trial
- Friend or Foe: The Use of Cannabis as a Potential Analgesic in Postoperative Lumbar Spine Surgery.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2026Review
- Strategies for High-Quality Spine Surgery in Resource-Limited Settings: The Five-P Framework for Equitable Surgical Delivery.Global spine journal · 2026Review
44 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundStudies from different Western countries have reported a rapid increase in spinal surgery rates, an increase that exceeds by far the growing incidence rates of spinal disorders in the general population. There are few studies covering all lumbar spine surgery and no previous studies from Norway.
objectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate trends in all lumbar spine surgery in Norway over 15 years, including length of hospital stay, and rates of complications and reoperations.
designA longitudinal observational study over 15 years using hospital patient administrative data and sociodemographic data from the National Registry in Norway. SETTING AND
participantsPatients aged ≥18 years discharged from Norwegian public hospitals between 1999 and 2013. OUTCOME MEASURES: Annual rates of simple (microsurgical discectomy, decompression) and complex surgical procedures (fusion, disc prosthesis) in the lumbar spine.
resultsThe rate of lumbar spine surgery increased by 54%, from 78 (95% CI (75 to 80)) to 120 (107 to 113) per 100 000, from 1999 to 2013. More men had simple surgery whereas more women had complex surgery. Among elderly people over 75 years, lumbar surgery increased by a factor of five during the 15-year period. The rates of complications were low, but increased from 0.7% in 1999 to 2.4% in 2013.
conclusionsThere was a substantial increase in lumbar spine surgery in Norway from 1999 to 2013, similar to trends in other Western world countries. The rise in lumbar surgery among elderly people represents a significant workload and challenge for health services, given our aging population.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.