Multidisciplinary Approaches to the Management of Spinal Care: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Abstract For patients with spinal care conditions including degenerative disease, deformity, traumatic injury, and complex pain syndromes, care is frequently fragmented across multiple specialists. This process can delay diagnosis, create complexity in communication, and result in inconsistencies in treatment decisions. Multidisciplinary spine clinics have been proposed as one approach to these challenges by bringing key providers together in a coordinated setting. In this narrative review, we examine recent studies comparing multidisciplinary models with traditional fragmented approaches to spine care. Integrated clinics are frequently associated with more consistent decision-making, improved coordination of care, and earlier access to both conservative treatment and surgical evaluation. Several studies indicate lower complication or reoperation rates, although findings vary by patient population and study design. Patient-reported measures of pain, function, satisfaction, and quality of life are generally similar or modestly improved in multidisciplinary settings. Practical advantages include shorter wait times for imaging, improved provider-to-provider communication, and more efficient preoperative preparation. This review addresses a timely gap in the literature by synthesizing evidence within the current context of AI-assisted decision support, value-based care reform, and evolving ERAS protocols, providing an actionable framework for institutions seeking to implement or expand integrated spine care. Clinic infrastructure barriers, reimbursement issues, scheduling demands, and inequitable access continue to limit broader adoption. Future research should prioritize prospective and multicenter studies and explore how tools such as telehealth and artificial intelligence may support and expand multidisciplinary spine care.