Endoscopic laser foraminoplasty for low back pain - horizon scanning review
NHSC
Record Status
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.
Citation
NHSC. Endoscopic laser foraminoplasty for low back pain - horizon scanning review. Birmingham: National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC). New and Emerging Technology Briefing. 2001
Authors' objectives
To summarise the current research evidence on endoscopic laser foraminoplasty (ELF) for low back pain.
Authors' conclusions
- Clinical impact: Until the results of a planned trial study are available the true impact of ELF on the general population with chronic low back pain is not known. However, evidence presented in the form of a longitudinal case series indicates that patients experience benefit post-operatively.
- Service impact: Wider employment of the procedure will require training of surgeons and purchase of specialist equipment. ELF is carried out as a day case procedure so there may be reduced hospital costs compared to current treatment options where open surgery is required.
- Patient issues: The results of case series indicate that 50-80% of patients experience a 50% reduction in pain post-operatively. The psychological implications of an aware-state procedure are important to consider.
- Financial and overall NHS impact: The financial impact of this procedure is unknown as no cost effectiveness studies have been carried out. However, a cost analysis has estimated that prior to referral for ELF the average patient has incurred management and treatment cost of 15,680 GBP. It is possible that some of these costs could be avoided with earlier referral to ELF particularly if this procedure was to replace current surgical options.
Endoscopy; Intervertebral Disk /surgery; Laser Therapy /methods; Low Back Pain /surgery
Language Published
English
Country of organisation
England
English summary
An English language summary is available.
Address for correspondence
The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269 Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk