Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for June 19, 2014.
Report identifies 5 key trends in the spinal fusion market
Spinal fusions increased 77 percent from 2002 to 2011, and the demand will continue to grow as the indications for fusion expand. In the immediate future, emerging economies will be a source of immense growth for the spinal fusion market. The Asia Pacific spinal implant and bone growth substitute market is projected to reach $7 billion by 2022, according to a Decision Resources Group report.
Lumbar spine surgery patient expectations impacts outcomes
Nearly all — 97 percent of the patients — said they expected surgery to stop their spine condition from getting worse. Nearly 76.8 percent of the patients undergoing surgery for spinal stenosis were confident of achieving recovery. But, after the procedure, 30 percent were dissatisfied with their outcomes.
AANS/CNS comment on Washington State's lumbar spinal fusion coverage
The commenting letter asks the Washington State Healthcare Authority Health Technology Assessment program that non-surgical alternative treatments be as thoroughly vetted for safety, quality, cost and availability as spinal fusion surgery. The organizations also ask that neurosurgeons be included in the development of key research questions and the opportunity to review clinical evidence included in technical assessments prepared for the issue.
Medtronic pays $42.9 billion for Covidien
Medtronic and Covidien have combined revenues of $13 billion from outside the United States, of which $3.7 billion comes from emerging markets. The combined company will have a comprehensive product portfolio, a diversified growth profile and broad geographic reach — with 87,000 employees in more than 150 countries.
Study examines XLIF effectiveness
Around one year after surgery, the coronal Cobb angle was 10.6 degrees on the radiological follow-up, an improvement from 23.8 degrees preoperatively on average. Also, lumbar sagittal lordosis increased 5.3 degrees postoperatively and by 2.9 degrees at the latest follow-up.
Beaumont Health System creates Harry N. Herkowitz, MD, Distinguished Chair
The new chair is named for the late chairman of the orthopedics department at Beaumont Hospital Harry Herkowitz, MD, a spine surgeon who passed away in June 2013. Jeffrey Fischgrund, MD, chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at Beaumont is the first Herkowtiz Distinguished Chair appointee.
LDR CFO Robert McNamara sells 40k shares
LDR Executive Vice President, CFO Robert McNamara sold 40,000 shares of LDR stock. The shares were sold at $24.65 per share, equaling $986,000. The company proposed an initial public offering in September 2013 to raise $75 million by offering 5 million shares for $14 to $16 each.
United States market for orthopedic trauma to reach $8 billion by 2020
There were more than 1.6 million total trauma fixation procedures performed in the United States last year. But trauma is only a small portion of the overall orthopedics market, which is expected to exceed $54 billion by 2018, according to an OrthoWorld report.
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