Spine

Minimally invasive spine surgery was associated with reduced opioid consumption, with endoscopic procedures having the lowest average use, according to a study published March 18 for the Global Spine Journal. Five things to know: 1. Researchers evaluated a prospective cohort…

In less than six months, Tan Chen, MD, has begun to transform the spine program at Inova Health System in Fairfax, Va. Dr. Chen, who joined Inova in November, has already built Alexandria, Va.-based Inova Mount Vernon Hospital into a…

Health systems and academic medical centers are increasingly turning to experienced spine and neurosurgeons to lead growth, standardize care and expand access across complex service lines.  Recent leadership appointments across the U.S. highlight a broader push to align clinical expertise…

Several surgeons debuted spine devices and other techniques during the first quarter from cervical discs to personalized implants. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. 1. Randy Dryer, MD, Curiteva’s CMO, performed the first clinical case using the company’s Inspire standalone ALIF…

During the first quarter of 2026, payers have bolstered both spine devicemakers and practices. Here are five moves to know: Tech coverage 1. UnitedHealthcare will cover Highridge Medical’s vertebral body tethering device, The Tether. The Tether is approved as a…

Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Va., has received the Blue Distinction Specialty Care designation for spine surgery.  Hospitals and medical centers that earn the distinction must meet evidence-based selection criteria, including lower complication and readmission rates, a history…

The University of California, San Francisco Health earned The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery, according to a March 18 news release. The certification was earned by meeting national standards set by the Joint Commission. The program was developed…

Spine surgery is increasingly defined by a tension few outside the field fully see: the collision of clinical complexity and economic constraint. For surgeons like Oliver Tannous, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Washington, D.C.-based MedStar Washington Hospital Center, that…

Ali Ravanpay, MD, PhD, has been named program director of Seattle-based University of Washington’s neurological surgery residency program, according to a March 18 system LinkedIn post.  Dr. Ravanpay earned his MD and PhD through UW’s medical scientist training program and…

Bayan Aghdasi, MD, performed the first spine surgery integrating both Apple Vision Pro and Stryker’s Q navigation in the San Diego region, according to a March 19 email shared with Becker’s. The surgery, a percutaneous lumbar fusion, was performed at…