OUTCOMES OF SURGEONS WHO HAVE UNDERGONE SPINE SURGERY

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence, characteris tics, and outcomes of spine surgery among a membership of American ort hopaedic surgeons with a particular interest in spine care [North Amer ican Spine Society (NASS)] and a general membership of Canadian orthop aedic surgeons [Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA)]. A 25-item mul tiple choice questionnaire was developed and mailed to both membership s. The COA response rate was 45.9%; the NASS response rate was 45.8%. Of those who replied, 17.2% had undergone spinal surgery, and the resu lts differed significantly between the COA at 12.9% and NASS at 21.9%. As a percentage of the total mailing, 7.7% had undergone spinal surge ry. These results differed significantly between the COA at 5.9% and N ASS at 9.7%. Although the surgery rate for NASS respondents was more t han 1.5 times that of COA respondents, they had strikingly similar out comes. They are a highly motivated, self-employed group who missed lit tle work before and after having surgery.