Innovations in the treatment of low back pain

Nonoperative care of the low back pain patient has changed little over the past 15 years. However, injections to localize pain have become increasingly more sophisticated for both diagnosis and treatment. Advances in surgical treatment have been dramatic. Minimally invasive techniques shorten postoperative recovery time by decreasing local tissue trauma. Disc replacement is a new option for treating the degenerative disc; offering the prospects of rapid postoperative recovery and maintenance of range of motion.