U. S. researchers revealed on Tuesday that spinal fusion surgeries among aged patients have increased, causing critical complications and rising expenditure for the healthcare system. These surgeries are being done to patients who complain of lower back pain, and are more costly as well.

Dr. Richard Deyo, from the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and his team wrote in their report that though the amount of overall procedures to treat back problems in patients actually went down between 2002 and
2007, yet, on an inflation-adjusted basis, costs of those surgeries increased by 40%.

Dr. Deyo, giving a telephone interview, said that the trend has become a norm due to introduction of new and better technology, for example spinal cages and special screws which are used to bind vertebrae together.

Deyo added that another reason might be the efficient marketing of orthopedic device manufacturers like Stryker Corp., Medtronic Inc. and Johnson & Johnson's DePuy, which persuade surgeons that complex surgeries like these give better results.

“It is driving up the cost of care without much evidence that it is improving care”, Deyo said.

The details of the report can be found in American Medical Association’s Journal.