Cost Effectiveness in the Treatment of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Treatment options for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) have become increasingly complex over the past 114 years of its recognition as a condition, with the development of increasingly expensive surgical consumables, implants, and techniques aimed at improving outcomes for this growing patient population. Due to the financial impact on patients, the clinical benefit derived must be periodically reviewed in the context of the associated costs. This article compiles data from multiple studies, primarily of North American origin, to assess the current state of available treatment options for DLS, the guidelines supporting their adoption, and their cost-effectiveness adjusted for present-day inflation.