Northeast Chiro Summit

Mark your calendars! The Northeast Chiro Summit returns to Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos May 1–3, 2026. This premier event brings together chiropractic professionals and offers a unique opportunity to elevate your practice and connect with the leaders shaping the future of chiropractic.

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Inform - Educate - Advocate

PCA exists to inform, educate, and advocate on behalf of the Chiropractor and patient. PCA advocates conservative care first as a verified strategy for safe and cost-effective health care for Pennsylvanians.

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The PCA Newsletter

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PCA – Value in Your Membership

Spinal Chat with PCA

The PCA Podcast Each episode brings you insights, conversations, and practical guidance to help chiropractors strengthen their practice, elevate patient care, and thrive in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. Tune in, stay informed, and be part of the movement advancing chiropractic in Pennsylvania.

Spinal Chat with The PCA

Welcome to Spinal Chat, the official podcast of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association. Each episode brings you insights, conversations, and practical guidance to help chiropractors strengthen their practice, elevate patient care, and thrive in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. Tune in, stay informed, and be part of the movement advancing chiropractic in Pennsylvania.

PCA Deep Dive: One Surgery Rarely Stays One: What 308,000 Patients Reveal

This episode of PCA Deep Dive, presented by the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association, examines the critical decisions patients face when dealing with severe low back pain. The discussion centers on the impact of choosing initial care providers—comparing conservative management (such as chiropractic care) with surgical pathways. Using data from key studies, including long-term outcomes of lumbar discectomies, the episode highlights how initial decisions influence long-term surgical risks, reoperation rates, and the overall durability of surgical interventions. The insightful analysis emphasizes the importance of sequencing, risk management, and understanding the broader implications of early healthcare choices on lifelong spine health.

00:00 Introduction to PCA Deep Dive

00:09 The Immediate Crisis of Severe Low Back Pain

00:20 The Impact of Initial Care on Long-Term Outcomes

01:08 Comparing Initial Provider Choices

01:52 Statistical Analysis of Surgical Risks

02:19 The Conservative Pathway vs. Surgical Pathway

06:04 Understanding Surgical Durability

08:31 Factors Influencing Surgical Outcomes

10:58 Implications for Patients and Healthcare Systems

14:28 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Study Attribution & Source

This episode references findings from the following peer-reviewed study published in Spine:

Etigunta, S.K., Liu, A.M., Gausper, A., Chan, V., Scheer, J., Perry, T., Skaggs, D.L., Walker, C., & Tuchman, A.Long-Term Reoperation Rates After Single-Level Lumbar Discectomy: A Nationwide Cohort Study.Spine, Volume 50, Issue 15, August 1, 2025.

The study is a retrospective cohort analysis of 308,979 patients followed for at least 5 years, evaluating long-term reoperation and fusion rates following single-level lumbar discectomy.

Journal Link (DOI):https://doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000005328

PCA Website:https://pennchiro.org/

PCA Email:pca@pennchiro.org

Disclosure

The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association did not generate this data. PCA Deep Dive reviews and discusses independent, peer-reviewed research to translate long-term outcomes and clinical implications for patients, clinicians, policymakers, and healthcare decision-makers.