Interpretation of "Guideline update for the performance of fusion procedures for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine (2014)"

Abstract

Lumbar fusion procedures have become a necessary management strategy in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. The new version of the "Guidelines for the performance of fusion procedures for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine" was published by American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) in 2014 since the first version had been published in 2005. Through comprehensive review of existing literatures, the new guideline analyzed current evidence of evidence-based medicine and formulated hierarchical recommendation grades from 16 topics which included assessment of functional outcome following lumbar fusion, assessment of economic outcome, radiographic assessment of fusion status, and so on, in order to provide clinical treatment guidance. This article interpreted the new guidelines summarily to help surgeons gain some understanding on it.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2016.04.002