Explosive growth of facet joint interventions in the medicare population in the United States: a comparative evaluation of 1997 2002 and 2006 data

摘要

BackgroundThe Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (OIG-DHHS) issued a report which showed explosive growth and also raised questions of lack of medical necessity and/or indications for facet joint injection services in 2006.The purpose of the study was to determine trends of frequency and cost of facet joint interventions in managing spinal pain.