Spinal Care: What Measurements Should be Used to Define Value to Society?

Evidence-based approaches to the treatment of spinal pathology are needed as the field evolves. Patient-reported outcomes have become the standard by which therapeutic success is defined. There are 4 types of commonly used outcome measures: generic, disease specific, pain scales, and health utilities. Using this framework to evaluate outcomes allows for cost-effectiveness studies to be done and define the value of spinal care to society.

Keywords:  HRQOLs , outcome measures , Oswestry Disability Index , pain scales , health utilities , spine