Spine surgery registries: hope for evidence-based spinal care?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Services Research
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Spine surgery registries are crucial for evaluating treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
• High-quality musculoskeletal care centers, like those in the International Society of Orthopedic Centers (ISOC), are key stakeholders in advancing surgical evidence.
• Understanding decision-makers' perspectives on registry implementation is vital for their successful adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perceptions of leaders in major orthopedic centers regarding the value, implementation, and utilization of spine surgery registries.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for establishing and maintaining spine surgery registries within leading orthopedic institutions.

Main Methods:

• A 33-item survey was distributed to CEOs and heads of spine surgery at International Society of Orthopedic Centers (ISOC) member hospitals.
• The survey targeted 21 ISOC centers globally, focusing on those dedicated to high-quality musculoskeletal care.
• Response data from 12 centers (60% response rate) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Seven of the responding centers (58.3%) currently operate spine surgery registries, with 5 in Europe and 2 in North America.
• Estimated annual costs for registry implementation varied, with common figures around $10,000, $20,000, and $50,000.
• Decision-makers recognize registries as a pragmatic method to generate high-level evidence, comparing favorably in cost to Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).

Conclusions:

• Spine surgery registries are perceived as valuable tools for improving evidence-based practice and patient care.
• The cost of implementing registries is considered manageable, especially when weighed against the benefits of high-level evidence generation.
• Registries offer a practical approach to expand knowledge by integrating data from all surgically treated patients.