SPINAL OSTEOARTHRITIS

Course overview

OSTEOARTHRITIS IS A COMMON CONDITION INVOLVING ARTICULAR SURFACES THAT CAN DEVELOP GRADUALLY OVER TIME INTO A DEBILITATING CONDITION THAT CAUSES PAIN AND RESTRICTION OF MOTION. AN ESTIMATED 80% OF AMERICANS HAVE AN EPISODE OF LOW BACK PAIN DURING THEIR LIFETIME. LOW BACK PAIN IS AMONG THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF HEALTHCARE VISITS IN THE UNITED STATES, ACCOUNTING FOR OVER 45 MILLION TRIPS IN 2006. SPINE OSTEOARTHRITIS IS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN. WHILE MOST CASES OF SPINE ARTHRITIS-RELATED PAIN ARE SELF-LIMITED, REQUIRING ONLY CONSERVATIVE THERAPY, CHRONIC BACK PAIN TREATMENT INVOLVES SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE DOLLARS. IN 2016, PATIENTS IN THE UNITED STATES SPENT AN ESTIMATED $380 BILLION ON LOW BACK AND NECK PAIN. $3.1 TRILLION, ABOUT 17.9% OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, WAS SPENT ON THIS DIAGNOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM'S ROLE IN TREATING SPINAL OSTEOARTHRITIS. IT DISCUSSES ITS PREVALENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND ITS CLINICAL PRESENTATION, DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS, COMPLICATIONS, TREATMENT OPTIONS, AND POTENTIAL PREVENTATIVE FACTORS.