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The status at six months was ascertained for 1555 of the 1633 patients enrolled in the study(95 percent).The times to functional recovery,return to work and complete recovery from low back pain were similar among patients seen by all six groups of practitioners,but there were marked differences in the use of health care services.The mean total estimated outpatient charges were highest for the patients seen by orthopedic surgeons and chiropractors and were lowest for the patients seen by HMO and primary care providers.Satisfactory was greatest among the patients who went to the chiropractors.Among patients with acute low back pain,the outcomes are similar whether they receive care from primary care practitioners,chiropractors or orthopedic surgeons.Primary care practitioners provide the least expensive care for acute low back pain. |
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