Research
This is a retrospective study aimed to analyse the clinical outcomes of patients following anterior cervical decompression and fusion for radiculopathy in worker’s compensation, third party and non-compensable group. The outcome of 224 cases operated between 1991 to 1998 were analysed. Only patients with radiculopathy due to a cervical disc protrusion and spondylosis were included. There were 140 non-compensable patients, 58 worker’s compensation and 26 third party. There was no statistical difference in radiological fusion between the three groups (P = 0.46). The worker’s compensation and third party claimant groups, had an ‘excellent’ outcome at 65% and 69% respectively, compared to the non-compensation group at 79% (P = 0.042).
1 Neurosurgical Registrar, 2 Fellow Neurosurgeon, 3 Consultant Neurosurgeon, Division of Neurosurgery, The Canberra Hospital, Woden ACT, 2606, Clinical School of The University of Sydney
Summary
This is a retrospective study aimed to analyse the clinical outcomes of patients following anterior cervical decompression and fusion for radiculopathy in worker’s compensation, third party and non-compensable group. The outcome of 224 cases operated between 1991 to 1998 were analysed. Only patients with radiculopathy due to a cervical disc protrusion and spondylosis were included. There were 140 non-compensable patients, 58 worker’s compensation and 26 third party. There was no statistical difference in radiological fusion between the three groups (P = 0.46). The worker’s compensation and third party claimant groups, had an ‘excellent’ outcome at 65% and 69% respectively, compared to the non-compensation group at 79% (P = 0.042). Rates of poor outcome were high in the worker’s compensation group (9%) compared with third party (4%) and the non-compensable group (5%). Financial incentives seem to significantly influence the outcome of cervical disc surgery in our patient population.
© 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd
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Keywords
anterior cervical fusion, compensation, outcome
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