Conservative treatment includes rest, medication, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and interventional procedures such as injections. Clinical guidelines generally call for a documented course of conservative care before surgical intervention for most spinal conditions.
Response to conservative care also informs diagnosis and prognosis.
Alternative Names:
Non-Operative Treatment, Conservative Care
Why it Matters?
The conservative treatment record is where reasonableness and necessity are tested. A surgical recommendation following minimal conservative care invites the argument that the procedure was premature, while an extended course of passive therapy without functional improvement supports arguing the treatment was litigation-driven. Guidelines from specialty societies are the standard reference point for both positions.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How much conservative care is expected before surgery?
What does extended passive therapy suggest?
