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Research project

What determines whether and where the patient will have back surgery, and what does the choice mean for the patient?

Lower back pain is the leading cause of non-fatal health loss. Back disorders account for nearly 10% of medically certified sickness absence and for the disability diagnosis in almost 11% of those receiving disability benefits. Spondylosis refers to chronic degenerative changes in the vertebrae, facet joints, and intervertebral discs. It can be regarded as the underlying condition that predisposes individuals to issues that may be relevant for surgical treatment, such as lumbar disc herniation in younger individuals or spinal stenosis in older adults.

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Project participants

  1. Cato Kjærvik

    Project manager and main supervisor

    PhD, Nordland Hospital, SKDE and Associate Professor IKM, UiT

  2. Oliver Müller

    PhD fellow

    MD, Nordland Hospital and SKDE

  3. Eva Stensland

    Co-advisor

    PhD, Director at SKDE, Associate Professor ISM, UiT

  4. Greger Lønne

    Co-advisor

    PhD, Innlandet Hospital, associate professor NTNU

  5. Tor Ingebrigtsen

    Project collaborator

    Professor UiT, UNN and the National Quality Register for Spine Surgery

  6. Tore Solberg

    Project collaborator

    UNN, Professor UiT and National Quality Register for Spine Surgery

Last updated 2/5/2026