Faculty Collaboration Database

Management of patients with prior lumbar fusion: a cross-sectional survey of Veterans Affairs chiropractors' attitudes, beliefs, and practices. Chiropr Man Therap 2020 Jun 19;28(1):29

Date

06/20/2020

Pubmed ID

32552863

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7304138

DOI

10.1186/s12998-020-00322-9

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85086690914 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the preferred treatment strategies of chiropractors in managing low back pain patients with prior lumbar fusions. There are several case reports which describe chiropractic care following surgical intervention, but there are no cohort or experimental studies published. Therefore, we sought to examine self-reported management approaches and practice patterns related to the management of patients with prior surgical lumbar fusion, among United States Veterans Affairs (VA) chiropractors.

METHODS: An electronic survey was administered nationwide to all chiropractors providing clinical care within VA. Questions were informed by a prior survey and piloted on a sample of chiropractors external to VA. Statistical analysis included respondent background information, and quantitative analysis of chiropractic referral patterns and practices. This survey collect information on 1) provider demographics, 2) VA referral patterns, and 3) attitudes, beliefs, practices and interventions utilized by VA chiropractors to manage patients with a history of surgical lumbar fusion.

RESULTS: The survey response rate was 46.3% (62/134). The respondents were broadly representative of VA chiropractic providers in age, gender, and years in practice. The majority of respondents (90.3%) reported seeing at least 1 post-fusion patient in the past month. The most common therapeutic approaches utilized by VA chiropractors were healthy lifestyle advice (94.9%), pain education (89.8%), exercise prescription (88.1%), stretching (66.1%) and soft tissue manual therapies (62.7%). A relatively smaller proportion described always or frequently incorporating lumbar (16.9%), thoracic (57.6%) or pelvic (39.0%) spinal manipulation.

CONCLUSION: This survey provides preliminary data on VA chiropractic services in the management of patients with prior lumbar fusion. These patients are often seen by VA chiropractors, and our findings support the need for further study to advance understanding of interventions utilized by chiropractors in this patient population.

Author List

Daniels CJ, Gliedt JA, Suri P, Bednarz EM, Lisi AJ

Author

Jordan Gliedt DC Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Allied Health Personnel
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Low Back Pain
Male
Manipulation, Chiropractic
Middle Aged
Spinal Fusion
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States