Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Nov. 6, 2014.
Stryker hip implant settlement to exceed $1.4 billion
Howmedica Osteonics, a Stryker subsidiary, reached a settlement agreement to compensate eligible patients in the United States who underwent hip surgery replacement using the Rejuvenate Modular-Neck hip stem and/or ABG II Modular-Neck hip stem. Stryker has recorded $1.4 billion in charges to earnings.
Wright Medical, Tornier merge
The $3.3 billion merger was driven by portfolio diversification and geographic expansion, which could contribute to its success. Other major mergers this year in the orthopedic device space have been focused more on the tax inversion strategy, which is under scrutiny by lawmakers.
NuVasive's 3Q revenue up 12.3%
NuVasive announced third quarter financial results and increased full year guidance. Revenue increased 12.3 percent to $189.9 million for the quarter and the company generated a record quarterly free cash flow at $35 million.
Smith & Nephew reports 3Q financial results
Revenue reached $1.1 billion for the quarter, a 3 percent increase underlying and 12 percent increase on reported basis. There was accelerated performance in the sports medicine and trauma and extremities divisions, driven by recent product introductions and investment in the sales force.
Magnetic vs. traditional growing rods for scoliosis: Which is better?
A new study in Spinal Deformity analyzed 12 patients with magnetically controlled growing rods and compared them with a group of patients with traditional growing rods. Patients in the magnetically controlled growing rod group experienced average 8.1 mm per year increase in the T1-S1 during the lengthening period. The traditional growing rod patients reported 9.7 mm per year.
Analysis: North American orthobiologics market
The orthobiologics market in North America is driven by implant technologies innovation shifting from mechanical to biological solutions, according to a ReportsNReports analysis. The United States contributes to around 92 percent of the orthobiologics market as of 2014.
Integra LifeSciences creates standalone spine business
Integra LifeSciences will spin off its spine business to Integra shareholders on a tax-free basis. The spin-off will create a new publicly traded company called SeaSpine, which will be focused on developing, marketing and selling spine hardware and orthobiologics.
South Korean researchers develop new robot for microscopic procedures
Researchers in South Korea have succeeded in developing a surgical robot for brain and spinal cord procedures, which are difficult to access with existing surgical robots. A medical team from a hospital demonstrated a procedure that removed a brain tumor from a cadaver using the newly-developed next-generation active cannula robot in Seoul on Nov. 2.
More articles on spine:
Spinal disability: 5 findings on associated physical & psychological issues
The 2014 pro athlete spine injury lineup: 6 spine surgeons who performed the surgeries
Magnetic vs. traditional growing rods for scoliosis: Which is better?