S3017 THE SWEDISH SPINE REGISTER

Abstract

Lumbar spine surgery has been registered on a national basis in Sweden since 1993 but the register became widespread after 1998 when the protocol was made patient-based and a support function for participating units was created. The surgeon completes data on diagnosis, type of operation, implant, hospitalisation time and complications. All pre- and postoperative data are completed by the patients, including pain on the VAS scale, pain drawing, and the SF-36 and EuroQol questionnaires. Data are presented yearly in an aggregated form while individual departmental data are reported to the individual departments. A participation rate exceeding 85% of lumbar spine surgery in Sweden was calculated for 2002 and the one-year follow-up rate from the previous year was almost 85%. The national registration provides a basis for evidence based lumbar spine surgery, documenting indications for surgery, variation over time and region, complication reporting as well as patient reported outcomes. The mean reduction of VAS pain for the individual diagnoses (disc herniation, lateral and central spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and disc degenerative pain) demonstrates the outcomes of surgical treatment for these diagnoses to be favourable. Current projects are expansion of follow-up to 5 and 10 years postoperatively, the creation of a web based protocol version and the development of a cervical spine register.