RT Journal
A1Hanley, Jr. ,Edward N.
A1 Herkowitz, Harry N.
A1 Kirkpatrick, John S.
A1 Wang, Jeffrey C.
A1 Chen, Morgan N.
A1 Kang, James D.
T1 Debating the Value of Spine Surgery*
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2010
FD May 1
VO 92
IS 5
SP 1293
OP 1304
DO 10.2106/JBJS.I.01439
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.I.01439
AB 
Surgery for many lumbar spine conditions remains controversial with disparate opinions on its value and a perceived lack of objective scientific justification. This discussion addresses the value of the information provided by the recent Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) and the utility of surgery for the enigma of low back pain.