Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for March 23, 2017.
Swedish-Cherry Hill neurosurgery hit with US Attorney's Office investigation
The U.S. Attorney's Office has joined the investigation of Swedish-Cherry Hill's neurosciences institute in Seattle, The Seattle Times reports. A Swedish spokesperson currently has no information about whether the federal investigation is criminal or civil. Read more about the ongoing investigations here.
Dr. William Maloney III steps into AAOS presidency role
William J. Maloney III, MD, took the helm as American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' president during the annual meeting in San Diego on March 17, 2017. Dr. Maloney stepped into his new role after serving for two years as the academy's vice president. He has long been involved with AAOS, including serving on the council on education committee.
House GOP unveils changes to AHCA
Republicans in the House released changes late on March 20, 2017, to their healthcare plan in an attempt to sway more members to vote for it. Called the "manager's amendment," the changes cater to both conservative and moderate Republican concerns about the bill, the American Health Care Act, according to a report from The Washington Post. The changes touch on Medicaid, age-based tax credits and ACA tax relief.
CMS further delays orthopedic bundled payment updates
CMS further delayed the effective date of updates to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model. The interim final rule with comment period also delayed the effective date of confirming changes to CJR provisions scheduled for July 1, 2017, to Oct. 1, 2017.
Impact of depression, bipolar disorder on spinal surgery patient
A new study published in Spine examines how depression and bipolar disorder affect patients who undergo spinal surgery. Patients who reported pre-existing depression or bipolar were more likely to also have cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatologic and neurologic disorders. The patients with depression or bipolar didn't report a change in the SF-36v2 Mental Component Score. The study authors concluded, "Patients with depression or bipolar disorder have smaller functional and quality of life improvements after surgery compared to patients with psychiatric comorbidities."
Andrews Institute investing in regenerative medicine
Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine relies on evidence-based medicine and research to improve its use of regenerative medicine. Andrews Institute is currently conducting research on regenerative medicine's impact on ligament, cartilage and osteoarthritis treatment.
Performing OLLIF instead of TLIF could save $2.7B per year
Inspired Spine presented a study on the economic performance of oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion at the Spine Summit 2017 in Las Vegas. OLLIF reported 56 percent reduction in surgical time when compared with TLIF. The OLLIF procedures were more than an hour shorter than TLIF. When taking the total U.S. spinal fusions performed last year into consideration, performing OLLIF instead of TLIF could save around $2.7 billion per year.
NICE updates guidance on lateral interbody fusion, supported by NuVasive's XLIF data
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, based in the United Kingdom, updated guidance for lateral interbody fusion on March 20, 2017. NICE received peer-reviewed journal articles outlining 14 years of investigation into San Diego-based NuVasive's eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion procedure. NuVasive unveiled XLIF in the United States in 2003.