Here are seven things for spinal surgeons to know for May 28, 2015.
Medtronic sets its sights on China — 5 things to know
The medical device company giant — and a leader in the spine device market — is on the prowl for acquisitions in China's fast-growing healthcare landscape. Many companies are seeking prized acquisitions in the local China orthopedic device market as the emerging market shows high potential for future growth.
Dr. Albert Telfeian performs 1st endoscopic removal of spinal tumor under local anesthetic
Dr. Telfeian is a neurosurgeon at Rhode Island Hospital and director of pediatric neurosurgery at Hasbro Children's Hospital, both located in Providence. He performed the first reported case of extracting the tumor endoscopically under a local anesthetic and while the patient was awake.
New study focuses on common misconceptions about spine surgery
A new study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine examines the most common misconceptions patients have about spine surgery. Researchers found that there were 33 percent of the patients who thought spine surgery was more effective than physical therapy for back pain without leg pain.
Washington University School of Medicine appoints Dr. Munish Gupta chief of spine surgery
Dr. Gupta will assume his new position on Sept. 1, replacing Lawrence G. Lenke, MD. He is currently a professor and vice chair of the department of orthopedic surgery and chief of orthopedic spine surgery and co-director of the spine center at the University of California, Davis. He is also director of spine surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children-Northern California.
European spine surgery devices market to soar to $2.9B by 2019
Factors driving the demand for spine surgery devices include the incidences of road accidents, the increasing cases of spinal deformities amongst the aging population in the European region and the popularity of non-fusion devices. The market is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.3 percent from 2014.
Free-hand screw placement: New study
A new study published in the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques examines free-hand screw placement accuracy using a new method that includes localized entry points. The researchers found that there were 20 mal-positioned screws and overall accuracy was 95.12 percent.
CMS plans new fraud-tracking website
CMS is seeking a contractor to build and maintain a website to streamline information from Medicare review programs on enforcement actions against Medicare providers. The current system lacks a way for review contractors to make sure they are not reviewing the same topic for the same provider at the same time.