• Accuracy and agreement of national spine register data for 474 patients compared to corresponding electronic patient records 

      Alhaug, Ole Kristian; Kaur, Simran; Dolatowski, Filip C; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Solberg, Tore; Lønne, Greger (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-01-06)
      Purpose - Data quality is essential for all types of research, including health registers. However, data quality is rarely reported. We aimed to assess the accuracy of data in a national spine register (NORspine) and its agreement with corresponding data in electronic patient records (EPR).<p> <p>Methods - We compared data in NORspine registry against data in (EPR) for 474 patients operated for ...
    • Accuracy of physical examination for chronic lumbar radiculopathy 

      Iversen, Trond; Solberg, Tore; Romner, Bertil; Wilsgaard, Tom; Nygaard, Øystein Petter; Waterloo, Knut; Brox, Jens Ivar; Ingebrigtsen, Tor (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2013)
      Background: Clinical examination of patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy aims to clarify whether there is nerve root impingement. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between findings at clinical examination and nerve root impingement, to evaluate the accuracy of clinical index tests in a specialised care setting, and to see whether imaging clarifies the cause of chronic ...
    • Anterior surgical treatment for cervical degenerative radiculopathy: a prediction model for non-success 

      Mjåset, Christer; Solberg, Tore; Zwart, John Anker Henrik; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Kolstad, Frode; Grotle, Margreth (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-12-08)
      Purpose By using data from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery, we wanted to develop and validate prediction models for non-success in patients operated with anterior surgical techniques for cervical degenerative radiculopathy (CDR).<p> <p>Methods This is a multicentre longitudinal study of 2022 patients undergoing CDR surgery and followed for 12 months to fnd prognostic models for non-success ...
    • The association between preoperative MRI findings and clinical improvement in patients included in the NORDSTEN spinal stenosis trial 

      Aaen, Jørn Ståle; Banitalebi, Hasan; Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Hellum, Christian; Storheim, Kjersti; Myklebust, Tor Åge; Anvar, Masoud D; Weber, Clemens; Solberg, Tore; Grundnes, Oliver; Brisby, Helena; Indrekvam, Kari; Hermansen, Erland (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-08-05)
      <p><b>Purpose</b> To investigate potential associations between preoperative MRI findings and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). <p><b>Methods</b> The NORDSTEN trial included 437 patients. We investigated the association between preoperative MRI findings such as morphological grade of stenosis (Schizas grade), quantitative grade of ...
    • Associations between utilization rates and patients’ health: a study of spine surgery and patient-reported outcomes (EQ-5D and ODI) 

      Rudolfsen, Jan Håkon; Solberg, Tore; Ingebrigtsen, Tor; Olsen, Jan Abel (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-02-22)
      <i>Background</i> - A vast body of literature has documented regional variations in healthcare utilization rates. The extent to which such variations are “unwarranted” critically depends on whether there are corresponding variations in patients’ needs. Using a unique medical registry, the current paper investigated any associations between utilization rates and patients’ needs, as measured by two ...
    • Behandlingsrater for ryggkirurgi i Norge og Helse Nord 2014-18 

      Ingebrigtsen, Tor; Balteskard, Lise; Guldhaugen, Kristel Ailin; Kloster, Roar; Uleberg, Bård Erling; Grotle, Margreth; Solberg, Tore (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-11-23)
      <i>BAKGRUNN</i> - Formålet med denne studien var å undersøke om behandlingstilbudet innen ryggkirurgi i Helse Nord er i henhold til den vedtatte funksjonsfordelingen mellom sykehusene i regionen, og om det er geografisk variasjon i tilbudet. Vi undersøkte derfor behandlingsrater i Norge og Helse Nord, samt egendekning i Helse Nord, og vurderte aktiviteten i regionen.<p> <p><i>MATERIALE OG METODE</i> ...
    • Can a Successful Outcome After Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation Be Defined by the Oswestry Disability Index Raw Score? 

      Werner, David Andreas Thomas; Grotle, Margreth; Gulati, Sasha; Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Madsbu, Mattis Aleksander; Lønne, Greger; Solberg, Tore (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2019-06-06)
      <i>Study Design</i>: Prospective multicenter cohort study.<p><p> <i>Objective</i>: To investigate (1) the discriminative ability and cutoff estimates for success 12 months after surgery for lumbar disc herniation on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) raw score compared with a change and a percentage change score and (2) to what extent these clinical outcomes depend on the baseline disability.< ...
    • Cervical spine surgery in the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority area in 2014-18 

      Ingebrigtsen, Tor; Guldhaugen, Kristel Ailin; Kristiansen, Jon-André; Kloster, Roar; Grotle, Margreth; Solberg, Tore (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-02-24)
      <p>BAKGRUNN - Kunnskap om variasjon i behandlingsrater er nødvendig for å vurdere om tilgangen til helsetjenester er likeverdig. Formålet med denne studien var å undersøke rater for kirurgisk behandling av degenerative nakkelidelser i Norge og Helse Nord, samt egendekningen i Helse Nord, og å vurdere aktiviteten i regionen. <p>MATERIALE OG METODE - Vi inkluderte operasjoner registrert i Norsk ...
    • Characteristics and outcomes of patients who did not respond to a national spine surgery registry 

      Kaur, Simran; Alhaug, Ole Kristian; Dolatowski, Filip Celestyn; Solberg, Tore; Lønne, Greger (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-03-04)
      Background Loss to follow-up may bias outcome assessments in medical registries. This cohort study aimed to analyze and compare patients who failed to respond with those that responded to the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery (NORspine).<p> <p>Methods We analyzed a cohort of 474 consecutive patients operated for lumbar spinal stenosis at four public hospitals in Norway during a two-year period. ...
    • Clinical and MRI findings in lumbar spinal stenosis: baseline data from the NORDSTEN study 

      Aaen, Jørn; Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Hellum, Christian; Storheim, Kjersti; Myklebust, Tor Åge; Banitalebi, Hasan; Anvar, Masoud; Brox, Jens Ivar; Weber, Clemens; Solberg, Tore; Grundnes, Oliver; Brisby, Helena; Indrekvam, Kari; Hermansen, Erland (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-11-19)
      Purpose - The aim was to describe magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients planned for lumbar spinal stenosis surgery. Further, to describe possible associations between MRI findings and patient characteristics with patient reported disability or pain.<p> <p>Methods - The NORDSTEN spinal stenosis trial included 437 patients planned for surgical decompression of LSS. The following MRI ...
    • Clinical improvement after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy; A comparison of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures during 12-month follow-up 

      Mjåset, Christer; Zwart, John Anker Henrik; Kolstad, Frode; Solberg, Tore; Grotle, Margreth (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-03-08)
      Object - Although many patients report clinical improvement after surgery due to degenerative cervical myelopathy, the aim of intervention is to stop progression of spinal cord dysfunction. We wanted to provide estimates and assess achievement rates of Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) at 3- and 12-month follow-up for Neck Disability Index (NDI), Numeric Rating Scale for arm pain (NRS-AP) ...
    • Clinical outcome after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis in patients with insignificant lower extremity pain. A prospective cohort study from the Norwegian registry for spine surgery 

      Hermansen, Erland; Myklebust, Tor Åge; Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Rekeland, Frode; Solberg, Tore; Storheim, Kjersti; Grundnes, Oliver; Aaen, Jørn Ståle; Brox, Jens Ivar; Hellum, Christian; Indrekvam, Kari (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2019-01-22)
      <p><i>Background - </i>Spinal stenosis is a clinical diagnosis in which the main symptom is pain radiating to the lower extremities, or neurogenic claudication. Radiological spinal stenosis is commonly observed in the population and it is debated whether patients with no lower extremity pain should be labelled as having spinal stenosis. However, these patients is found in the Norwegian Registry for ...
    • Clinical outcomes after surgery for cervical radiculopathy performed in public and private hospitals : a nationwide relative effectiveness study 

      Danielsen, Elisabet; Gulati, Sasha; Salvesen, Øyvind Olav; Ingebrigtsen, Tor; Nygaard, Øystein Petter; Solberg, Tore (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-01-01)
      Aims - The number of patients undergoing surgery for degenerative cervical radiculopathy has increased. In many countries, public hospitals have limited capacity. This has resulted in long waiting times for elective treatment and a need for supplementary private healthcare. It is uncertain whether the management of patients and the outcome of treatment are equivalent in public and private hospitals. ...
    • Comparable increases in dural sac area after three different posterior decompression techniques for lumbar spinal stenosis: radiological results from a randomized controlled trial in the NORDSTEN study 

      Hermansen, Erland; Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Hellum, Christian; Storheim, Kjersti; Myklebust, Tor Åge; Aaen, Jørn Ståle; Banitalebi, Hasan; Anvar, Masoud D; Rekeland, Frode; Brox, Jens Ivar; Franssen, Eric; Weber, Clemens; Solberg, Tore; Haug, Knut Jørgen; Grundnes, Oliver; Brisby, Helena; Indrekvam, Kari (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-06-18)
      <i>Purpose</i> - To investigate changes in dural sac area after three different posterior decompression techniques in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.<p><p> <i>Summary of background data</i> - Decompression of the nerve roots is the main surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. The aim of this study was to radiologically investigate three commonly used posterior ...
    • Comparable Increases in Dural Sac Area After Three Different Posterior Decompression Techniques for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Radiological Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial in the NORDSTEN Study 

      Hermansen, Erland; Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Hellum, Christian; Storheim, Kjersti; Myklebust, Tor Åge; Aaen, Jørn Ståle; Banitalebi, Hasan; Anvar, Masoud; Rekeland, Frode; Brox, Jens Ivar; Franssen, Eric; Weber, Clemens; Solberg, Tore; Haug, Knut Jørgen; Grundnes, Oliver; Brisby, Helena; Indrekvam, Kari (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-06-18)
      <i>Purpose</i> - To investigate changes in dural sac area after three different posterior decompression techniques in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis.<p><p> <i>Summary of background data</i> - Decompression of the nerve roots is the main surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. The aim of this study was to radiologically investigate three commonly used posterior ...
    • Comparative effectiveness of microdecompression alone vs decompression plus instrumented fusion in lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis 

      Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Gjestad, Rolf; Solberg, Tore; Storheim, Kjersti; Brox, Jens Ivar; Hermansen, Erland; Rekeland, Frode; Indrekvam, Kari; Hellum, Christian (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-09-10)
      <i>Importance</i> - Conflicting evidence and large practice variation are present in the surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis. More than 90% of surgical procedures in the United States include instrumented fusion compared with 50% or less in other countries.<p> <p><i>Objective</i> - To evaluate whether the effectiveness of microdecompression alone is noninferior to decompression ...
    • Comparison of 3 Different Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial 

      Hermansen, Erland; Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Hellum, Christian; Storheim, Kjersti; Myklebust, Tor Åge; Aaen, Jørn Ståle; Banitalebi, Hasan; Anvar, Masoud D; Rekeland, Frode; Brox, Jens Ivar; Franssen, Eric; Weber, Clemens; Solberg, Tore; Furunes, Håvard; Grundnes, Oliver; Brisby, Helena; Indrekvam, Kari (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-03-28)
      Importance Operations for lumbar spinal stenosis is the most often performed surgical procedure in the adult lumbar spine. This study reports the clinical outcome of the 3 most commonly used minimally invasive posterior decompression techniques.<p> <p>Objective To compare the effectiveness of 3 minimally invasive posterior decompression techniques for lumbar spinal stenosis. <p>Design, ...
    • Complications, reoperations, readmissions, and length of hospital stay in 34 639 surgical cases of lumbar disc herniation 

      Fjeld, Olaf Randall; Grøvle, Lars; Helgeland, Jon; Småstuen, Milada Cvancarova; Solberg, Tore; Zwart, John-Anker; Grotle, Margreth (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2019-04-01)
      <i>Aims</i>: The aims of this study were to determine the rates of surgical complications, reoperations, and readmissions following herniated lumbar disc surgery, and to investigate the impact of sociodemographic factors and comorbidity on the rate of such unfavourable events.<p> <p><i>Patients and Methods</i>: This was a longitudinal observation study. Data from herniated lumbar disc ...
    • Criteria for success after surgery for cervical radiculopathy—estimates for a substantial amount of improvement in core outcome measures 

      Mjåset, Christer; Zwart, John-Anker; Goedmakers, Caroline M.W.; Smith, Timothy R.; Solberg, Tore; Grotle, Margreth (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-06-02)
      <i>Background context</i> - Defining clinically meaningful success criteria from patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is crucial for clinical audits, research and decision-making.<p> <p><i>Purpose</i> - We aimed to define criteria for a successful outcome 3 and 12 months after surgery for cervical degenerative radiculopathy on recommended PROMs.<p> <p><i>Study design</i> - Prospective ...
    • Decompression alone versus decompression with instrumental fusion the NORDSTEN degenerative spondylolisthesis trial (NORDSTEN-DS); study protocol for a randomized controlled trial 

      Austevoll, Ivar Magne; Hermansen, Erland; Fagerland, Morten; Rekeland, Frode; Solberg, Tore; Storheim, Kjersti; Brox, Jens Ivar; Lønne, Greger; Indrekvam, Kari; Aaen, Jørn; Grundnes, Oliver; Hellum, Christian (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2019-01-05)
      <p><i>Background - </i>Fusion in addition to decompression has become the standard treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). The evidence for performing fusion among these patients is conflicting and there is a need for further investigation through studies of high quality. The present protocol describes an ongoing study with the primary aim of comparing the ...