The Comparison of Cost-Effectiveness Between Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Provocative Discography in the Identification of Chronic Low Back Pain Surgery Candidates.

Background/context: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a significant US healthcare burden with millions of lumbar spine procedures annually. Diagnostic tests are essential to guide treatment but provocative discography (PD), the most common diagnostic procedure, is without robust evidence of its value. A non-invasive alternative using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) offers a potential solution.

Context/purpose: We assess cost-effectiveness of MRS with NOCISCAN diagnostic algorithm compared to PD for identifying lumbar discs requiring surgical intervention.

Study design/setting: We conducted cost-effectiveness analysis using modelling.

Patient sample: We used data from a clinical study of 139 CLBP patients who met criteria for and received PD of lumbar spine and presented with an ODI score ≥40; comparing PD and MRS-based diagnostics.

Outcome measures: We considered diagnostic costs, adverse events, surgical costs and outcomes based on a 15-point improvement on the Oswestry Disability Index.

Methods: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERS) and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were determined. Some authors have consulted for Aclarion.

Results: Mean total cost per PD patient was $59,711, and $57,998 for MRS, demonstrating $1712 cost savings per MRS diagnosed patient. Diagnostic costs ($1950 for PD; $1450 for MRS), saved $500 per MRS patient. PD incurred adverse event costs ($57,323) for 1% of patients, which MRS eliminated. MRS-based diagnosis showed 78% surgical success, whereas PD achieved 68%. MRS was the dominant diagnostic strategy, with better clinical outcomes and cost savings. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed MRS dominance and was cost-effective across a wide range of willingness-to-pay thresholds and across 2 different scenarios which vary base-case outcomes and surgical rates.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates cost-effectiveness dominance of MRS with the Nociscan diagnostic algorithm over PD for identifying CLBP surgical candidates. MRS provides significant cost savings and leads to better surgical outcomes, making it a preferred choice for insurers and health systems.