Physician preference and geographical location largely determine who does and does not receive surgical treatment for their condition, according to the report.
The average rate of spine surgery to treat acute low back pain was 4.7 per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Casper, Wyo., had the highest rate, with 10.1 surgeries per 1,000 patients. Honolulu had one of the lowest rates, with 1.5 surgeries per 1,000.
The New England region also had substantially less surgeries prescribed than Northwest.
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