AANS National Neurosurgical Procedural Statistics Report

· Composite Profile - AANS and Survey Statistics · Physician and Practice Profiles · Top Reported Procedures Performed in 1999 by Specialty · Top Reported Cranial Procedures Performed in 1999 · Top Reported Pain - Functional Procedures Performed in 1999 · Top Reported CSF Procedures Performed in 1999 · Top Reported Peripheral Nerve Procedures Performed in 1999 · Top Reported Spine Procedures Performed in 1999 · Top Reported Extracranial Cerebrovascular Procedures Performed in 1999 · Top Reported Catheter/Endovascular Procedures Performed in 1999 · Glossary of Terms

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Study Methodology
In June 2000, a self-administered survey was mailed to 1,570 neurosurgeons (an initial error of +/-3% at the 95% confidence level). These neurosurgeons were practicing board-certified Active AANS members who were selected using a random sampling of AANS members in group, academic and solo practices (refer to Composite Profile for member profile).

The data for this report was collected using CPT codes that identify procedures. The results reflect the number of procedures performed by AANS members, not the total number of operations or cases performed.

A subsequent reminder card was mailed in the beginning of August 2000, approximately six weeks after the survey mailing. The entire data collection window lasted eight weeks.

Ultimately, a total of 412 surveys were completed and returned, an overall response rate of 26%. The measurement of precision of our findings for the surveys returned is calculated at +/-5% at the 95% confidence level.

Projection Methodology
The composite profile of the returned surveys closely mirrored that of the AANS member universe on key geographic and practice demographics (see chart on Composite Profile for examples of Composite Statistics). This "matching" gave us a high degree of comfort in projecting our survey data to the AANS universe and obviated the need for weighting the data.

A mean including all responses, was calculated for the sample by each procedure audited. To avoid skewed data, procedures with a mean equal to or less than two were eliminated from the data.

The procedural mean was then multiplied by the AANS universe of 2,511 board-certified AANS members to calculate the number of aggregate procedures performed by the membership.

These results were then compared to external benchmarks in the HCFA database (carotid endarterectomy) and the Dartmouth Musculoskeletal Atlas (lumbar spinal stenosis), and the AANS survey results were consistent with those external benchmarks.