ALPS confirms its support for the Spinal Foundation |
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Date Created: Mon 17/12/2007 |
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If you suffer with back pain, sciatica or neck pain or are suffering from failed microdiscectomy, failed fusion or failed disc replacement or decompression then; Do you want to know how Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery might help you to improve your quality of life? The Spinal Foundation have been pioneering Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery since 1990. The Charity Objectives: "The relief of persons requiring spinal surgery by the provision of laser or other Endoscopic techniques and the provision of such medical or other charitable care or facilities as may be ancillary thereto" The Foundation is a charitable trust and fund raising is underway to support the Spinal Foundation as it develops the Endoscopic Laser Foraminoplasty procedure and continues to establish the evidence base for the procedure so that it may be widely offered to NHS patients. Key Facts The NHS spends about £480m a year on services for people with back pain - many of which are ineffective. Around 16 million people a year, in the UK alone, will experience back pain. Possible treatments will include visits to the GP; referrals for X-rays; outpatient consultations; physiotherapy; acupuncture - the list goes on! Most back pain sufferers will take time off work, with periods of absence from around one week to a year or longer. The research conducted at the Spinal Foundation indicates that many of these patients can benefit from laser assisted spinal surgery who, otherwise, would be left to suffer. Background (NICE & RCT) The Spinal Foundation focuses upon MISS and as a non-NHS provider has been trying to prepare the evidence base for these techniques so that they may be widely employed in the NHS. The Spinal Foundation has performed robust independently evaluated research. The current climate favours only the results of Randomised Clinical Trials (RCT) and ignores the results of prospective studies. Regrettably National Institute for Clinical Health and Excellence (NICE) has relied upon data from ill informed anonymous sources and issued guidelines which tend to deter Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) from referring patients to the Spinal Foundation. However the Manchester Zone PCTs have reviewed our data and are prepared to refer patients to the Spinal Foundation providing they are entered in to a Randomised Clinical Trial. The Spinal Foundation has constructed a Randomised Clinical Trial according to MRC guidelines. Patients will be referred by randomisation for fusion or MISS. However the Spinal Foundation meets the requirements of NICE for direct referral out with the Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial and patients are increasingly being referred to the Spinal Foundation for the specialised endoscopic treatment which it offers. In the light of the withdrawal of reimbursement for Fusion and Total Disc Replacement in the USA, it is likely that NICE will conduct a review of these procedures and conclude that |