The North American Spine Society (NASS) has published its “Evidence-Based Guideline: Diagnosis and Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis, Second Edition,” in order to help spine care specialists diagnose and treat degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.
“As our population ages, most spine specialists will confront degenerative spondylolisthesis, a condition that can require complex treatment,” says Paul Matza, a Missouri neurosurgeon and a co-chair of NASS’ Evidence-Based Guideline Development Committee. “This handy compendium provides a quick, yet comprehensive foundation from which to base effective therapy, backed by the strongest available evidence.”
The guidelines are an update to the 2008 guidelines on the same topic and provide evidence-based recommendations to address key clinical questions surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.
The document is intended to reflect contemporary treatment concepts for symptomatic degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis as reflected in the highest quality clinical literature available as of May 2013. A 226-page technical report, including the literature search parameters and evidentiary tables developed by the authors, is also available online.
“This document also highlights critical gaps in research and recommends areas where more research is needed,” comments Matz. “We hope that the spine community uses the guidelines as a springboard for further scientific inquiry into the study of degenerative spondylolisthesis leading to better treatment for patients who suffer from this condition.”
