Title: Primary Spine Care: An Initiative Addressing the Extreme Health Burden of Spinal Pain
Presenter: Scott Haldeman, DC, MD
Presentation Description
Low back and neck pain is the greatest cause of disability globally, impacts the most vulnerable members of the population and represents a larger health care expenditure in the US than any other disease. This extreme burden of spine pain, associated disorders, and related disability is increased by the consequences of opioid prescription for spine pain and potentially the comorbid association of spine pain and non MSK disorders. The Global Spine Care Initiative (GSCI), convened by the World Spine Care group of charities, included a literature review and a consensus of 68 clinicians and researchers from 24 countries. This initiative led to the publication of 16 papers that included a care pathway for people with spinal disorders. The GSCI emphasized the importance of the Primary Spine Care Clinician as the coordinating point for a multidisciplinary, integrated approach to reduce the burden of spinal disorders that is inclusive of all clinicians whose care is sought by people with spinal disorders. This initiative expanded on recommendations of the Bone and Joint Task Force on Neck Pain and Associated Disorders which also investigated the potential harms of some of the more commonly utilized interventions such as manipulation. The list of recommended interventions is similar to those recommended by the World Health Organization’s World Rehabilitation Alliance and most other national and international guidelines.