[Do socioeconomic factors influence treatment choice for thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures?]

Thoracic and lumbar fractures are common injuries that can be treated either surgically or non-surgically. This study investigated if socioeconomic and demographic factors influence treatment choices in Sweden using data from the Swedish Fracture Register and other national health registers. Results showed no significant association between socioeconomic factors and treatment choices. However, patients age 50-69 years were less likely to undergo surgery, probably because of factors such as osteoporosis and increased comorbidity. The study suggests that Swedish healthcare primarily bases treatment decisions on medical factors rather than socioeconomic background. This contrasts with findings from other countries where healthcare is more influenced by socioeconomic factors.