There has been much criticism in the medical literature of both the lumbar and cervical spinal fusion surgeries because of an increasing amount of studies showing no benefit our only minimal benefit, and the high cost and complication rate of these types of surgery. In spite of the studies in their criticisms, the fusion rates continue to increase every year and the insurance companies and insurance plans continue to cover the majority of the costs.
Recently Medicare considered whether it would continue to pay for spinal fusion surgery for certain conditions and surprisingly to me they decided to continue to pay billions of dollars every year for these surgeries.
