Abstracts by keywords: orthopedics
Back pain is one of the most frequently diagnosed diagnoses both nationally and internationally. Around 85% of the population are affected by back pain at least once in their life (Schmidt et al. 2007). Among those insured by the AOK, Barmer and DAK, back pain is the diagnosis with the most days of incapacity for work (WIdO 2011; Ed. 2010; Research 2011; Raspe 2012). Back pain incurs considerable costs in the healthcare system, estimated at around 49 billion euros per year (Kuntz et al. 2017; Wenig et al. 2009). Due to the frequency of back pain, it is the most significant cause of years of life lost in Germany (Plass et al. 2014). Depending on the respective data base, a prevalence of 32 – 49% is assumed in Germany (Raspe 2012). The demographic, socioeconomic and biological influencing factors of back pain are now well researched. Both national and international studies have shown that, overall, back pain occurs more frequently in women, older people and population groups with low socioeconomic status (Kuntz et al. 2017). Regional differences in the frequency of operations for various indications such as osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc damage have also now been well studied. The result shows that in regions with a high density of orthopedists, treatment tends to be conservative, while in regions with a low density of orthopedists, operations tend to be performed more quickly (Schäfer, Pritzkuleit, Hannemann et al. 2013; Schäfer, Pritzkuleit, Jeszenszky et al. 2013; Pollmanns, Wesermann, and Drösler 2018).