abc730 Profile picture
May 27, 2020 6 tweets 4 min read Read on X
Treatment for #backpain costs the nation almost $5bln a year as more patients undergo expensive, complex surgery. But some argue there's little evidence that procedures such as spinal fusion are always the best option. #abc730 @tabowden
In 2017-18 nearly 18,000 spinal fusions were carried out in Australia. “It's a low level of evidence we accept and I don't think that's good enough particularly for highly invasive, risky & costly procedures like spine fusion.” Prof. Ian Harris, orthopaedic surgeon. #abc730
After three back operations including a spinal fusion, Steve Durell turned to physiotherapy. “If I had my time again and doing this whole process again, I would definitely explore other options than getting surgery to start off with.” #abc730 #backpain
Prof. Ian Harris has been an orthopaedic surgeon for more than 20 years but no longer operates on backs. “I realised that the evidence wasn't very supportive ... in fact, for many of the procedures that I was performing there was evidence that they probably didn't work.” #abc730
Neurosurgeon Jonathan Ball thinks surgery remains a legitimate option for some #backpain. ”It's important not to say because surgery's not right for all back pain, that we just say no surgery for any back pain.” #abc730
A year ago Tracy Lesslie could barely walk because of debilitating back pain. She tried physiotherapy but it didn’t work. Dr Jonathan Ball performed a spinal fusion and she says there was an immediate difference. “The pain was gone almost straight away.” #abc730 #backpain

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More from @abc730

Jan 30, 2023
More than three decades after terrorists brought down an American airliner over Lockerbie in Scotland, families who lost loved ones are finally hoping to see justice. #abc730

abc.net.au/news/2023-01-3…
“The idea that they were coming home for Christmas and were blown out of the sky and took minutes to fall to earth … you couldn’t sleep when you thought about that.” – Bill Barr, former US Attorney-General #abc730
“It was very rewarding for me personally to be able to bring those additional charges. For me, it was finishing a job that I had started.” – Bill Barr, former US Attorney-General #abc730
Read 4 tweets
Jan 30, 2023
Tech billionaire @billgates is one of the best-known figures on the planet, responsible for decades of philanthropy targeting poverty, disease, infant mortality and more recently COVID-19. He spoke to @FergusonNews. #abc730
"I think Australia will be able to export green hydrogen and other clean products. It is certainly a country where the opportunity in a green economy is greater than it has been in the past." – @billgates #abc730
"The cost to be ready for the next pandemic is a rounding error compared to what it takes to re-tool the modern economy to solve climate change." – @billgates #abc730
Read 9 tweets
Jan 23, 2023
The days of being swamped with politicians talking about COVID already seem like a long time ago. But the virus continues to run rampant, making a lot of Australians sick and killing many, even if we don't seem to be talking about it publicly as much. #abc730
Joining @latingle in the studio to discuss the nation’s latest COVID strategy are @CrabbBrendan, @nadahamad, and @RDNS_TAI. #abc730
"The current approach to COVID in Australia is to let it run in a so-called healthy population — that means unfettered transmission largely in the wider population while trying to protect those who are deemed vulnerable ... It is clearly not working." – @CrabbBrendan #abc730
Read 12 tweets
Jan 23, 2023
Nearly 18 months after unveiling the AUKUS agreement, the federal government is preparing to announce exactly how it plans on acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. North American correspondent @jademacmillan1 spoke to members of Congress about the path ahead. #abc730
“If AUKUS really works the way it should, there should be contribution into this program from the UK and Australia. And I think that shows that, you know, that’s a force multiplier that can really help take on the larger demand.” – Rep. Joe Courtney, Democrat #abc730
“I think you will definitely see Australians on board US submarines training, for example. Whether we get straight to the point of there’s a combined and integrated Australian and US crew on a US submarine, that will be interesting to see.” – Mark Watson, ASPI #abc730
Read 4 tweets
Dec 21, 2022
A referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament will be one of the biggest issues confronting the country next year. @latingle spoke to @mdavisqlder about what the Voice can be, and why she remains optimistic about its future. #abc730
"I think one of the reasons the Voice became the primary focus of Indigenous constitutional recognition is that we actually don't have much input at all into laws and policies that are made about our lives and our communities." – @mdavisqlder #abc730
"There's a lot of noise and it happens in a lot of policy areas in Australia. There's a lot of noise and a lot of advisory committees. There's a lot of talk. There's a lot of reports but there's no coordination. There's no coherency." – @mdavisqlder #abc730
Read 8 tweets
Dec 21, 2022
Tasmanians have long wanted their own AFL team, and they’re closer than ever to getting one. But the AFL has made it clear a local team is contingent on the island state building a brand new stadium. #abc730
“Just about everyone I speak to shares my view that it would be unconscionable to spend that sort of money at a time that the state has so many other challenges.” – Andrew Wilkie, Independent MHR #abc730
“This is a huge opportunity for all Tasmanians and can I say, that these are the investments, this is the type of vision, this is the type of commitment that we all need to embrace.” – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier #abc730
Read 5 tweets

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